DND_Reborn
The High Aldwin
People say things like this all the time - but sometimes it's the truth and sometimes they just haven't analyzed their games enough to really understand what's occurring.
Really... Huh, I guess I am just a moron then? Our game runs just the way we like it, thank you very much. Our current game has ONE variant human in it, along with a dwarf, half-orc, half-elf, elf (formerly dragonborn reincarnated to elf), and a dragonborn. Obviously people like playing whatever race they want for different reasons.
Your OP complains about getting combat and defensive feats early, making them too good for you; or at least too good too soon. Other feats are better early on but you don't want to give up ASI to get them. So, variant humans can grab them and other races can't.
Boo-hoo!
Other races have other benefits to balance it all out. So, this isn't hard you know. Remove variant humans entirely, give them something other than a free feat (like a list of options that won't tweak your nose), or any of the other ideas people have said. If you don't like how feats scale, change them.
I really like this change!
LOL good. At least you like something...