A lot of earlier versions were like homework. Lots of math and record keeping.
Bzzt...wrong: THAC0 is a cakewalk (keep in mind that you are speaking to an arithmetic-averse geek here). As for 2e in particular? It didn't last eleven years by being a shoddy system.
You may be thinking of 3e/3.5e; I love that system for the fond memories it has bequeathed me, but I'll admit it
did feature a plethora of modifiers.
P.S. Were you aware that 5e borrowed quite a bit from 2e?
