5e basically is 4e, but with a few significant changes that lead to it being more palatable and even deceives many that the game has changed back to the 3e days.
The main thing they've done is to make every class unique, als they have come down from the powers system to a split betweens spells, abilities and tricks. This seems to console the 4e haters and most of the playerbase has returned.
I did like 4e and now also 5e since it supports pure roleplay more than any other system. The focus lies not in mechanics but in story telling and action. 4e, with its standardized classes, already did this. When it no longer matters what kind of class you are (a warlock just wielded a different kind of sword/ attack implement, and its attack noises were different from a fighter's), but basically every character was a He-man doll with different dress up but with a button in the back (literally) that did a specified amount of damage per level. That meant that players HAD to roleplay to make a difference.
Sadly not many players saw the potential and liked to play "the rouge (error intentional)" or "the cleric". 5e does facilitate this kind of "roleplaying". Also many supporters on new media were very vocal and helped the franchise get "back" (Actually 4e and later 5e were their best selling products of all time).
I play Rolemaster since that facilitates any style of play. You can mold a magician to be a great fencer and a fighter to cast spells. I like its complexity and how that always leads to character differences due to personal preferences and how the dice fall at character creation. Construct a party of 5 fighters in 5e and you will see that the majority is the same (optimized), but make a party of 10 RM fighters and you will end up with all different concepts.
I have been producing my own adaptation of MERP to D&D for close to 20 years. It allowed me to make my own vision of ME and craft my own stories in the best of all campaign settings. I do allow access to magic, because it is so visible in the books, eventhough in hindsight it is all divine magic, but you don't know that when you just read LotR and the Hobbit. I think my players have a great understanding of the living and breathing Middle Earth and its history and they read and enjoy the books (and hate the movies) more for it.
It is great to see a new generation get introduced to the inner workings of Tolkien's life's work and hopefully do him justice in his wishes: to give the story to other hands and other minds to expand it. The adventures people have had in ME are beyond count and add to the legacy of Tolkien and it is just awesome.