Yeah I feel that a lot of the given examples for a class are not the best. Especially for Magic Users seeing as how Vancian magic does not conform to how magic worked at all in Myths and Legends.
3.0 Weapon Sizing is superior. I would also let players use the "Monkey Grip" Feat from Sword and Fist to let them wield a weapon one size up in one hand or two sizes up in two hands with no penalty. Normally Monkey Grip lets a creature use a weapon one size category larger in one hand at a -2...
SAGA was ahead of its time. I love its simple but fun (Only time you will hear a Tinker Gnome praise something as "simple"!) mechanics.
I would use it to run DL in any age to be honest.
Sadly I think part of the reason SAGA never caught on is because Gamers are REALLY addicted to dice.
I wish...
I am definitely in the former camp, which is why I liked most of the Age of Mortals novels, both pre and post War of Souls.
I also feel that post War of Souls is great as a gaming setting because of so many different options present for characters.