We always relished surviving those low levels of previous editions. It really felt like you had earnt those new snazzy powers.
I definitely want a return to 'normalish' 1st level. Want heroic, then add the Con score to hps, or start at higher level. Novels I read and enjoy mostly start out with the Orientation of establishing 'normal' characters thrust into the situation of adventure.
I also wanted to XP BobtheNob again, but can't.
Having all the things you can do set out on the PC sheet with their own names and descriptions, certainly limited the freedom I was used to XPing at my table. (Even though I initially loved the concept).
Freeing up their character sheets from powers I think will actually benefit NEW players. I have always loved the ideas players with little rules knowledge come up with.
Unfortunately in my latest games (4E), there seemed to be more expectation to 'do your role' and don't try other things. My son (8 years) played a Gnome Warden. He got into the whole warden relation to nature thing but also like the gnome trickster side and loved the cantrips. He roleplayed being frightened of larger folk when I described them 9as he was an escaped formorian slave). He found a cool hand crossbow and liked to use it (even though there was nothing on his sheet telling him it was any good).
Fortunately he didn't go through powers in order of +'s etc. But even more disturbing, was the other players (who have played along with me since 1E) often swayed him away from his initial response, stating he had a better power, or 'you are our defender, it would be better for you to get up front', or 'you know your bonuses aren't as good with the crossbow?' etc.
These players were long time roleplayers (and very character focused - not normally power gamers at all). Even worse - I even erred my son along another course of action a few times.
So, for DnDNext I too share the concern that everything you can do being defined by what you have - not what you don't have. Look at the blank faces when people go to disarm in 4E. I always allowed attempts at such things - and tried to encourage things not on sheets. The Terrain Powers were cool from DMG2, but players were too entrenched in their own powers.
Mind you there are so many things about 4E I love - definitely not flaming - I am still playing, and enjoying it too (see website in sig

), but this is not something I would like to be brought forward.
I DO want new players saying "I try this". Playtests so far are indicating a positivist outlook as far as i can see.