When they ask: “What’s your favorite AD&D 2e setting?”
Me: “Forgotten Realms. Yeah, it’s basic… but the variety is insane (and BG1 got me into D&D).”; Also me, immediately:
“2e/3e Realms had DEEP lore and history—so much it scared off newcomers.
Then 4e/5e flattened it into ‘orcs attack the village’ forever.
4e wrecked the setting.
And the 3e FRCS book is one of the best setting guides ever printed.”