Well, we did play by the rules. So a typical minor orc encounter with 3-4 orcs would not uncommonly TPK the first level group of 5 PCs due to rolled hit points at 1st level. Even the fighter usually had less hit points than a single longsword could do with one hit.
Sure. The DM could softball encounters if he wanted. Just look at the random encounter tables. That 1st level group with their low hit points could randomly encounter...
1-4 giant badgers with an AC of 4, and 3 attacks, 3-13 giant centipedes with save or die poison each, 2-5 lemures which regenerate and good luck having holy stuff at 1st level, 2-8 troglodytes, 1-3 boring beetles with an AC of 3 and 5 hit dice each, a very young dragon, gelatinous cubes and more. You ran into up to monster table 3 in dungeons.
The outdoor table was even worse, since it didn't care about levels and you would encounter ghouls, gargoyles, dinosaurs, dragons, trolls, and more. All at 1st level unless the DM was softballing those encounters.
So yes, typical for me was typical for the game if playing the encounters tables as written.