I like crossbows. Having magic shooting out of you all the time feels more like a sorcerer thing. I think it would be cool for wizards to keep metamagic (don't know why they lost it), and give combat cantrips to sorcerers.
The Without Number series of games, particular Ashes Without Number, have excellent rules for building communities in RPGs (and all other forms of worldbuilding for that matter).
Your point of view. Plenty of games use 5e as a base even if it isn't really appropriate. Call it, "Popularity = $$$ Syndrome" if you like. I don't mind.
I disagree. The OSR movement started to increase accessibility to 1e (through OSRIC). The games most commonly inspiring the OSR are pretty well-regarded by OSR designers.
That may be a result of PBtA engine being a victim of " New Hotness Syndrome" (despite not actually being all that new by now). It is IMO somewhat trendy to use.