As a GM I allow my players to roll the stats and then distribuite de points as they want...but as a player, I roll my stats in order and accept my luck. It's a lot of fun to play with someone with huge flaws, like a wizard stronger than the warrior.
Well, I stopped with 3.5...does it count as "old" now with 4th on the street?
Did the same with Vampire...never followed to Requiem. Masquerade for me!
I always take Forgotten Realms 3.5 but I add a bit of personal flavour, grimmer and darker than the common high fantasy setting. More shady npc's and less all-good/all-bad guys.
I'd like to try Greyhawk someday.