Why didn't we switch to 4e/5e?

[Pleh]

Gods above, why have a skills system at all then?

This, and also - CR/APL includes WBL, so "go build a fighter without magic items" makes no sense.

It's been years since I played 5e, but what I remember the game seems to rather encourage tables to be a bit more liberal with their application of Freeform elements of RPGs.

Having a skill system still gives us the satisfaction of rolling dice and adding numbers, even if the DCs aren't as almighty and powerful as they once were.

The "go build a fighter without magic items" is a tricky concept. Yes, you are supposed to have approximately WBL to count as being at appropriate power level, but having Optimal magic items was never guaranteed, either. Without just outright using the Magic Item Creation rules (which the fighter needs a friendly caster to help with), you can have your entire WBL and then some, only to find yourself not all that much better off for it because the particular arrangement of items was sub-optimal.