Is the roleplay aspect of D&D gone, replaced by optimization?

[PhoenixPhyre]

Serious question: ARE there simpler OSR games? 5e is the simplest edition of D&D I've ever seen. Even the old, old-school editions were, despite having fewer knobs, far more complicated due to klunkier gameplay rules technology, to my recollection. 3e and 5e are refinements and streamlines on their basic engines to the point that they are simpler.

Are there OSR games that are genuinely simpler, still?

That's my impression as well. 2e, for instance, has way more rules complexity despite having fewer knobs and dials for characters. Everything has different, incompatible systems, assumptions, and procedures, plus tables tables everywhere. To me, personally, this feels like pointless complexity. But YMMV.

5e has (relatively) more content, but that content is simpler to apply and more modular (you can cut out or add selective races, classes, feats, and spells without breaking anything in particular).