I actually like the old 2nd edition wizards as demi-gods. You start out hiding behind rocks and rule the game at higher levels. With the right pre buffs you could through anything and planning the right buffs was part of the strategy. In ToB battles were all about the contingency and chain contingency spells.
But while you and I might like that, 2nd ed partisans are few and far between. Many people thought that mages were OP and fighters were bland. 5th edition is the most popular edition ever -- people love it. And 5th is great, I really like that WotC has brought back elements from 1st edition: "if the story is good enough, whatever you were trying to do works"
Concentration is much better check on the mages power than are the 3rd ed debuffs -- AOO on spell casting, every opposing wizard could counterspell with the spell. If you ever played tabletop 3rd ed, the wizard was never able to cast their signature spells -- "fireball -- countered" "couldkill -- AOO, interrupted" . . . 3rd edition transformed the wizard into a gunslinger. Make wand, use wand, fail to level up because wand making has eaten all your experience points. Rinse and repeat.
