I prefer combat balance that's not driven by the clown store

So you want us to get rid of Champion points, make different areas have levels for creatures and go back to Veteran Ranks that cap at 12? That is true classic.

I think I would rather not go back to the past but instead move forward with improvements.

Though it was nice back then to not get a bounty for looting crates and chests in town. Legal system was a bit more lax then.