I have heard multiple times that variant human is only there as a minmax tool and that it overshadows every other choices by making humans the optimal choice for all classes. Is that true?
Not really, but the selection could be, it depends on the feat selected. Many feats would simply serve as something interesting to flesh out a character and communicate the flexibility and adaptability of humans. However, certain feats lead to a dramatic bonus to effectiveness at first level.
In the end though, the standard human non-variant isn't remotely competitive with the other racial selections.
