3.X has rules issues but it pales in comparison to the people issues. I've had numerous players who just wouldn't reign themselves in despite pointing out the problems they were causing. When I took the opposing tact of just strengthening the world, players would also get upset that they couldn't just roll over opposition which lead to them asking for more and more options and allowances and arguing incessantly over the rules before having a fit that they couldn't keep up (in a campaign with only no real PC deaths or deus ex machina saves). So when some DMs say they are still having a blast running 3.X, I can believe them. They're playing with the RIGHT people.
problem players have been problem players since at least the late 80's... I would be SHOCKED to hear that in 1979 they were not present already...
Having said that the internet (for all the good it does) has magnified some of it. I think I still run into problems with throw back games too, and I will with new games (8th edition D&D wont have less problem players).
I will never forget the first time I heard (and yes it was heard at a table at Gen Con) "Peasant rail gun"
I will never forget the look on my buddies face when I brought a 20+page print out and put it down and asked "Do you want to hear the most powerful kobold ever?" (by then I was into the op boards for fun)
having said that, I want to share what I think is the worst gamer story ever... and it comes in 2 parts
1) I sat to play a 2e (they called it 3e, combat and tactics, skills and power and a bunch of other option books) in mid 90s. The game had a binder of house rules... some where basic, some was a new homebrew class (heck I stole some of there ideas for years) and I skimmed them... then I asked why a few times, I was told "Because of ART!!" I didn't know Arthur yet though... SO I sat and rolled my stats and got really good ones, and thought I would try a fighter/mage/theif... so I asked "Can I be a half elf?" and got 3 players and the DM all stop and scream no... what BS are you trying for... then the DM calmed down and asked "What kind of half elf?" I didn't understand... until "Because ART" A few years earlier Art had said "Gonna make a half elf" and the DM said OKAY, but then Art made a half drow half deep dragon with a bunch of books... made her a necromancer and took necromancer boons from another book... and then claimed "You said I could not my fault you didn't ask more"
2) that DM sat to play at my table... His character sheet (he had made before game at home I might add) was all covered in bad writting... I knew something was the matter he never scibbled this bad. I got down to the notes and it was such a mess I asked "What is this?" His answer was "That's elven" I just sighed and kept going assuming he meant the character knew elven... first fight he pulls out a Vorpal Long sword... and explains he wrote in elven (tolkeen not even D&D) vorpral sword and I was stuck cause I couldn't take back approval of a sheet... then he got mad when I laughed and said "Sure I can"
that whole group (and others I meet) didn't have any good faith, they were full of trouble players I have long since learned to avoid... and none of them were on a TSR website I promise...