That is a different argument than the one you made before. Now you compare people within the same role. Here I can follow your thought. But still, a +1 difference hardly matters, and there are other things that differentiate those fighters more.
Lets compare a rock gnome with a half orc whochose the same standard array and make a list:
Str 14 (+2 half orc), Dex 12 (half orc) 10 gnome, Con 15+1, Int 10 (half orc) 12+2 (rock gnome) , Wis 13, Cha 8
The half orc has:
One extra crit die.
Once per rest has an extra life
Average intelligence
Probably a great weapon and great weapon mastery.
The gnome has:
Tinker tools
Gnome Magic resistance
Quite high intelligence and maybe some knowledge skills
Probably duelling fighting style and a shield.
A bit lower dex due to stat choice.
So the Orc deals more damage but against enemies that use magic, the gnome has the advantage of a much higher chance to save against debilating spells like hold person or phantasmal force.
The gnome has 2 more AC.
Once they reach level 3, the comparison most probably they will take different subclasses.
Of course now you could say: but the gnome and the half orc probably want to be both battle masters with great weapons... After level 8, both have 20 Strength anyway, and what is left of both differences is that the gnome deals slightly less damage (d10 vs d12 or 2d6) and magic resistance for the gnome. If you use feats, of course the galf orc now will take great weapon mastery and deals a lot more damage... But that feat was never in question for the gnome, not because of his lower strength, but because he can't use heavy weapons.
Maybe the half orc instead takes resilient wisdom though, because he noticed that being controlled by mind affecting spells negates all of his damage so the difference between both characters are mostly style.
I know this is likely not to make a difference, but this is at least the second time this thread has come up, and I don't understand why people can't understand that this is a problem for some of us. To use a food analogy, I don't like donuts. You can tell me that they are fine, that they are just bread with sugar, you can tell me anything you like. I don't like donuts.
And, the issue that this rule set is meant to alleviate is an issue for some of us. You don't have to agree. You don't have to do anything, but could we please accept that it is an issue for some people? And that it isn't an issue for them because they are some sort of problem group like Min-Maxxers?
Maybe if I laid out the thought process and why I have the issue, maybe people will get it?
When I make a character I usually start one of two ways. Either, there is a class I want to play, or there is a race I want to play. And immediately, this problem raises its head.
If I want to play a cleric, then I want a high Wisdom. Therefore, my best options are the races that give bonuses to wisdom.
If I want to play a Rock Gnome, then I have an Intelligence boost and a Con boost, Con is generic (everyone wants it) so to best utilize my buffs, I should play an intelligence based class.
I haven't done anything beyond choosing one aspect, and already my options have shrunk. Could I choose to play a Gnome Cleric? Yes, because I did do that once. I played a gnome Cleric of Life, and I dumped Dex, giving him a lame leg that worked into my backstory about why he was in this obscure sect of Gnomish Faith and why he was a healer and a doctor.
Was it a trash character who was never able to do anything?
No, it was "fine", but I had a problem I spent most of the game taking ASIs to bump my strength and Wisdom so I could be an effective, heavily armored cleric. I almost never got to take any feats that would have expanded on my concept. And, I noticed it.
I noticed my lower DC constantly when my spells failed. I notieced my lower bonus to hit constantly when I did melee attacks. I noticed my low dex when the DM gave me a "Heavy crossbow of healing" as a unique reward that I ditched immediately, because I could never use it (You had to hit the target for it to work, and I had disadvantage, no prof, and a -1, it was just a way to waste my time, I traded it for a basic wand of web instead). I noticed my lower wisdom meant I chose fewer spells, so I had fewer options to bring into battle.
It was likely constantly getting poked in the back of the head. Because all the things I wanted? The tinker ability, the advantage on saves? None of that mattered for that game. I never got to use that enough to make a difference.
And, that expeirence, in addition to the time I DM'd for a Dragonborn cleric who had many of the same problems, steers me away from those choices. I don't build or even recommend to people Barbarians that aren't a strength-based race, or Wizards who aren't an int-race. Because the chance of them being frustrated with their choice is too high.
It happened to me. It happened to a friend. Why would I let it happen to someone else?
And maybe, maybe it is all perception, but you can't talk me into changing my perspective. You can't tell me this wouldn't be a problem if I cared more about RP and less about dice. You can't tell me that I am wrong, because you once played a character with a 12 in their main stat, and had all the fun in the world.
This is something quite a few of us struggle with in DnD. Can we at least accept that?
In home games probably not as much. In AL official games I expect to see more shenanigans as people find more combinations that increase character power. I just would have liked a chance to play test major changes first to see how little or how much it will affect the games balance. Especially concerning player vs monsters.
Before a Yuan ti fighter had reduced primary stats but an extremely powerful racial ability to offset it. Now you can have both. Instead of give and take you get give and give. That original Yuan ti fighter would eventually even out at high level play with ASI and/or feats. The new Yuan ti fighter gets a head start over the old at creation and continues ahead.
Maybe in AL this might, possibly be a problem, because now the Yuan-Ti is playing a fighter instead of a Hexblade Warlock, or a Bard, or a Paladin, or just a normal warlock.
But, is that really so game-breakingly powerful? I don't think so.
It does allow certain things. A Scourge Aasimar Barbarian is now much more viable. In fact, most of the "plane-touched" can now be built to more resemble their mortal heritage, which is fun. But, any race that is now far too powerful, was likely already far too powerful.