Or conversely... the other way to look at it is that the design isn't lazy, but rather you are. You want everything codified so you don't have to think or do any work.
Now, is that statement of mine unfair and unnecessarily hurtful? Most likely, yes. And I apologize for that. But at least you can see why you calling their work lazy is unfair and unnecessary too.
You want to say you prefer 4E's design to 5E's, that's great. You'll have a bunch of people who will agree with you. But denigrating 5E's design just because you don't prefer it serves no point and the mirror can be turned and reflected back on you just as easily.
You can't apologize for intentionally being as disrespectful and insulting as you just were. You don't know me and you calling Me 'lazy' because I voiced my perspective... Yeah you don't know me or how I see things.
Was it necessary for you to be so insulting to me? I find it amazing that while I did give credit towards 5e on a couple of really cool things you decide to insult me anyway.
And while I was talking about a game from the perspective of game design, you decided to attack me directly. I don't know you, but there is a difference in talking about a game compared to directing an attack on a person for them just voicing their perspective. You don't know me so don't presume to think you know anything about me from a couple of internet comments on a couple of opinions.
I can give credit to 5e on some of the great things that they did do with it that has made it a great game, or did you miss that in my comments when you singled me out?
I respect what 5e has done for the hobby and industry. Its been a boom. I think its great so many like it.
Popularity has nothing to do with actual design, or how game mechanisms function, or that there is a lot of stuff presented in the game that has no mechanical foundation.
Is 5e good? Yes.
Does it have a lot of meat ideas? Yes.
Is it fun? As a DM yes.
Does it try to introduce ideas and options? Yes.
Is it presented in an easy to read presentation? Yes.
None of that detracts away from the fact that while it does have a lot of cool stuff in it, it doesn't provide players the tools to have any real agency. Because of how much focused is put on allowing the DM to make rulings about so many things, just about every action a player does is a process of asking the DM if its okay, leading to a game of DM-May-I.
A good, fair DM will make it fun and fair... But a bad DM can suck the fun out of it and use this authority to strip any kind of agency from the players because the entire game is designed on this premise of allowing SMs to make up so much as they want it to be.
There is no narrative identity in the game as per the rules as written. There are no encoded rules on how to manage non-combat XP. There are no rules on how to give out Inspiration. There are so many things left open to interpretation because they didn't want to design it.
So, yes, in a way it is lazy design.
4e takes a lot more work to DM. WOIN takes a lot more work to GM. Apocalypse World takes a lot more work to MC. 13th Age takes more work to GM. Dresden Files takes a lot more work to GM. Torg takes a lot more work to GM. Hero System takes a lot to GM.
You don't know me. Please don't presume to assume I am lazy.