Insert inverse T-Ball analogy here.
That would certainly be fair. The stand in T-Ball makes it easier to hit the ball.
As I said earlier, "Either the rules do not affect how you can role-play, in which case Monopoly or Chess is as adequate an rpg as 4e, or the rules do affect how you can role-play, in which case it is reasonable to put forward a case that 4e is a better role-playing vehicle than Monopoly....or that 3e is better than 4e in this regard....or that 4e is better than 3e."
Of course, if you follow the inverse T-Ball analogy, T-Ball is easier than softball, and softball is easier than baseball (in terms of hitting the ball, at least). Those who are best at hitting the ball may prefer any game, but those who are worst at hitting the ball are unlikely to favour baseball.
Similarly, a super-duper role-player might role-play his heart out while playing chess, but that doesn't mean that the average gamer is going to be willing (or even necessarily able) to do so.
As T-Ball is a better vehicle for hitting the ball than baseball, I take ByronD's remarks that there are better vehicles for role-playing than 4e not to mean (as some have supposed) that using a better vehicle makes you more sophisticated, but that it is simply easier to use.
The T-Ball analogy ByronD did use was in terms of game mechanics, where the mechanics of 3e were analogous to baseball, and the simpler mechanics of 4e analogous to T-Ball. If you are not particularly good (or willing) to use the more complex mechanics, then you shouldn't have to. But that isn't the fault of the mechanics per se.
Likewise, if you want to role-play in an environment with fewer props, it isn't the level of props that is at fault. You can roleplay with chess or Monopoly. Or, as Gary was fond of pointing out, with no rules at all.
ByronD's points, as I understand them, can be summarized as:
(1) The mechanics of 4e may be easier than the mechanics of 3e, but the mechanics of 3e don't get in the way of some people because they are particularly good at using those mechanics. Moreover, since the simpler mechanics remove some mechanical possibilities, he prefers the more complex mechanics. Essentially, easier mechanics means fewer mechanical props.
(2) Games other than 4e have more role-playing props that 4e, making it easier to role-play using them.
(3) If one is not having problems with the 3e mechanics, he sees no reason to switch to a system with fewer mechanical and fewer role-playing props.
He can correct me if I am wrong.
RC