How is it D&D's fault that certain DMs only give XP for combat? IT ISN'T!
Its partialy their fault indeed, becuse the whole DM Guide induces you to do so. (There is a not somewhere saying "ok, you can give like 50XP for a good roleplay"
).
And DnD has a very important issue: 3.5 is very well balanced (at least from 1-12 level), and obviosly was a great mathematical endeavour. Many options even for the regular Fighter and they are all balanced among thenselves.
So where is the problem?
You simple can?t mess up with anything without screwing something else up. Believe me on this one.
Want to reduce "
Power Atack Feat" effectiveness? You just made "
Monkey Grip Feat" much more powerfull.
This way I saw some DnD DM friends regreting they messed with the rules, and making the players unhappy once they realised "how unfair was for then".
Our last long DnD campaign was from level 1st to 9th, and was amazing. But the DM decided that he would not give treasure like the books say so "
magic itens should be very rare". He regreted so badly, becuse the whole
Chalenge Rating game balance went out of the window and he was having many problems to balance things up again so he just gave up and the campaign was over.
He is an amazing guy and a very solid DM, but the frustration overhelmed him (and us).