By end-game the gnome will have 20 STR...AND, that gnome will be equal in strength to the Goliath fighter who equally invested in strength.
This is a key point. The max ability score for EVERY race through ASIs is 20. If my level 12 gnome can train hard to get 20 strength, exactly the same as a level 12 orc, then why can't my gnome start out with 16 STR? Backstory of intensive training or steroids or whatever
Because the Orc is racially predisposed to being stronger than the Gnome.
