To further your point about 1e, monster xp was negligible, you needed XP from treasure to level. Here is a good thread that shows the truth that with treasure and monster xp together the leveling rate was about the same as 3.0...
Our 1e/2e games didnt and dont have this issue, but we use a modified version of Moldvay Basic with each side rolling d6, higher roll wins, ties are simultaneous.
The characters are balanced against each other, thats all that matters to the DM. Having everyone be strong, weak, or average is the point of why we do it this way. When you roll the normal way some can be weak and some can be strong.
We also only roll if EVERYONE rolls, if people want to point...
We are doing this (which I stole from this board at some point) after the current campaign ends at 20th (we are close):
Everyone rolls ONE set of 4d6 drop lowest, then each set is written down on a sheet of paper. Players pick the stat array they want from the list, and players can even pick...
If you think they are stupid or dont use them why are you in this thread? The op said "What are your favourite fumble tables for 5e? a.k.a. critical fail, "natural 1."".
I like critical hits but not fumbles, but we have used them in the past. Normally we just did lose your turn and kept it...
And yet I have never found a need to make sure a character is acting the way its supposed to act. If I want to have eliminster be a drunken rapist, I will. We wont care either, and yet, its still the Realms.
Never seen this in practice and have been using FR since the grey box (which I still use). I also looked in the Grey Box, 2e Boxes, and 3e guide and didn't see anything about this. Novels are irrelevant.