[Luvian]

Third editions are is lot more flexible than 2nd or first edition AD&D.

I don't see what is the problem with character creation, unless when you where plaing D&D you where only using the basic rules. Personally, I would never run a game without skills from the Player's option: Skills and Power, and most of the other advanced rules found in the base books as well as the other sourcebooks. To me, character creation meant browsing through 10 or so books. Player's Handbook, DM's Guide, the racial handbook, the class handbook, Player's option: Skill and power, Player's option: Combat and tactics,...

That was the problem with 2nd editons. The rules where in tons of seperated books, and sometimed contradicted eachother, or created exploits. They made 3rd editions to update the rules, and incorporate the skills and feats to the basic game. Now, you get all the rules in the core rulebooks, and the other handbooks are mostly only prestige classes and some roleplaying elements.

Of course, if you where using only the very basic 2nd edition rules, 3rd edition might be out of your league. It's like comparing the nes mario to mario 64. Same basic game, but one is a lot more complex than the other.

Personally, I don't see the point in learning 2nd edition now. First of all, it's discontinued, so getting the books and quests is harder, and no new products will come out, while tons of quests and other products are coming out for 3rd editions. In a few years, I bet about 90% of the players will be playing 3rd edition exclusively, so you would have to learn it then anyway.