Zardnaar
Legend
I think there's a tendency for TTRPGs to grow more complex with each new edition, recapturing current players but losing its ability to gain new ones. There were factors beyond game design that played a role in AD&D becoming the main version of the game - TSR basically lost its ability to sell in mass market outlets once the fad passed - but I think making the more complex version of the game the default and the lack of a clear path from Basic to AD&D really hurt the game.
Continuity is a big benefit between editions. It's why I think the 2024 version of D&D will have a fairly light touch.
I've noticed they put the mid edition stuff into the next revision.
Basic page count from 1E to 2E to 1995 2E to 3.0. 1000 odd pages for core rules.
I played some old D&D 2012 when I think you said that you tried them out whole designing 5E.
This year I've played 2E, Castles and Cruades and 5E. Some sort of B/X and 2E hybrid with modern mechanics would be close to my ideal D&D.
One coukd also use 5E to clone previous editions or make an OSR game.