In my opinion the answer is "No". But my player says otherwise...
[shameless plug]
Man, I hate hearing that. If you're willing to try a new system and have about $60 to shell out on the core rules, pick up HackMaster. it's a modified version of 1/2e AD&D, and most of the rules that matter are in the GMG. Since players specifically aren't allowed to read the GMG (doing so carries in-game penalties), they don't know what the rules are. this has the effect of returning the GM/DM to his position of absolute power. As an added bonus, you can use all of your old 1e/2e monstrous manuals by adding 20hp to all monsters. Gotta love kobolds with 24hps.
Oh, did I mention that the PHB has
17 different Fireball spells?
[/shameless plug]
Back on topic, they nerfed Negative Energy Protection by adding in a random element. it is possible in 3e to be protected by NEP and still suffer level drain, etc. in 2e, NEP was absolute. it only protected from one hit, but it did it without fail. I either made or read (don't remember) a 6th level version of the spell that duplicates the 3e version, but without the chance for failure.
IMC, NEP has been house-ruled to act as the 2e version did, since I think a 3rd level spell that can counter multiple spells of much higher level as well as numerous creatures' natural attacks is a bit overpowered. There is also a new spell, Improved negative Energy Protection, which acts as a standard NEP except that it protects against all NE attacks for the duration, instead of negating the first attack only.