I suppose we can make you a char and tell you what you can do.
WotC has cracked down, in 3E you could have just used online resources.
Yeah, that's always an option. Check the OP tho, I can help you out.
And yeah, the lack of the OGL is bothersome. D20 was cool like that; the open license meant you could do pretty much anything. 4e's license is "do it and die"
Well, I never felt limited by another system. I did read the books a bit at a friends, and I wouldn't say they're worth the money. But then, I never played it, so that's it.
Oh, its not that it's limiting. It's just another game system. The books aren't worth the 40-50$ they cost, but if you get a bunch of friends together to pitch in for them, its a much better system than, say, anything Whitewolf's ever put together - nothing wrong with World of Darkness, but it's not good for a fantasy game.
4e is REALLY streamlined. Also, has class balance. Wizards and Fighters can actually hold their own at any given level, unlike 3.5, where wizard become the best class after 9th level.
Damned, I never understood while people where playing D&D when there was so many free game system out there. Never mind then, I'll just watch.
The free games are based on D&D, lol.