Playing Pool Of Radiance got me learning the ins and outs of 2nd edition AD&D and I came to the realization today that I prefer games with a magic points or mana system. Probably because I grew up with JRPGs which exclusively deal with MP over spell slots. Don't get me wrong, D&D is great, but it's such a pain when you get into battle and you realize you forgot to memorize Detect Magic and now you have a bunch of potential good loot.
Agreed, it works better in fiction though. The way it’s described in Tales of a Dying Earth really sells the notion that magic is weird and powerful while following rules that prevent it fully being under our control.
Totes fair. It's always been a weird system.