If you’ve played 3-5e, your character has not been on a zero to hero arc (at least in the way a more old school game frames it). You have a lot more going for the “power level” of a character compared to the older games. It’s more akin to hero to super hero from an osr perspective. This isn’t to edition bash, or attack a game, just pointing out a difference. it is one youd definitely notice if you played an osr game for a sustained amount of time.
The OSR rulings over rules is emphasised to some extent because, yes, you do that in later editions, but to a great extent, the older games require it to function. And this leads to a beautiful experience. You’re not playing “d&d”. You’re playing my game, or Kenada’s game or Jack Daniel’s game. Yes they will have the same base, but it presents a lighter framework to kit bash, customise and tweak.
This doesn’t mean the referee rules with an iron fist. Because there is a lot of space between the rules, player negotiation with the referee is expected. “I want to do this”, “ you can try, but because of x, it’s difficult”, “well, I think I’d know how to do this because of x and I’m also going to use y”, “sure, that’ll improve your odds”.
If you maintain a group, it becomes your group’s game, your group creates not just the adventure, but contributes to the system as well.