Has anybody else picked up Heroes of the Fallen Lands yet?
I am glad to see Wizards has finally acknowledged the complexity inherent in their system (granted, 4th edition is a huge improvement from 3/3.5) and provided a stepping stone for those new to D&D or RPGs in general. The class archetypes presented in Heroes are definitely much more straightforward than their predecessors, but still feature that "accumulative complexity" Wizards was aiming for with 4th edition.
Oh, and the feats. OH GOD YES THE FEATS. Actual, in-depth explanation as to what each feat is an abstraction of (and feats as a whole)? No class-specific feats? Expertise feats that do more than "+1 bonus to attack rolls"? Yes, yes, yes.
This seems like the right move for Wizards. People who want to more precisely calibrate their characters can still use the previous three PHBs and "Power" books, while those who want general character archetypes or are learning the game can use the Essentials.
I feel this new product line will attract more players to D&D. Or at least generate interest in RPGs. Either outcome would be a huge victory for all involved, from Wizards employees to us players.