[grumple]

DnD has inconsistent quality and has a ton of rules, but few of them add much value. There's really not much polish either imo. The vast majority of the rulebook get ignored because they don't make the game better and often make it worse. The current generation of players, largely inspired by the rise in acceptance of geeky hobbies, by Critical Role and similar shows, etc, would be better off with a different system entirely. These people play to have fun with friends, to have exciting stories and moments, not to follow the ten thousand rules and baggage dnd has acquired over the years.

Dungeon Masters make or break the game. They do it by storytelling, by presenting challenges and helping players overcome them, by creating a sense of ownership and reward. DnD is not good at teaching people to do those things.

I've played some other systems, and immediately they were easier to play and more fun for the group. You don't need 20 rule books, you need a simple set of rules and a desire to participate in a shared storytelling experience, and that's really it.