ummm dude?
hourserules and champaign changes to classes and tewaks can help classes, bu that 's how a game's played, not how he class is made...
i mean, you can make a monk better than a wizard if you have a campaign setinside a frikkin' huge antimagicfield, but that doesn't mean anything...
using a camaign setting and dm powers to help/hinder classes doesn't help the discussion
final fantasy 1...I dare say that is not the default in most campaigns, where time is often of the essence (LOTR anyone? Dragonlance?).
anyways, you know there isn't a magial warlmart in most campains, so your monk has to spend (days weeks months?) searching for the right store with the right magic item?