Thing is 3.5 to me doesn't seem that different to 4. There are some big surface changes for sure but it doesn't change the way most people play the same old game I played 20 years ago as a kid. I borrowed the 3.5 PHB and the difference is mainly in the character classes and races not being the same in 4, and each class has a set of about 100 at will, encounter, daily and utility powers that vary depending on the class. and replace the old spell system, some skills eg tumble.

Some changes, like with my character a Ranger, in 3.5 he has spells and Animal companion. In 4E the PHB has only ranged and two sword rangers, no magic, and no animal companion. They do have some wisdom based attacks but they aren't magic but skill and knowledge based power attacks, and have a lot of perception based advantages over other classes.

If you want to have an animal companion, the Martial Power source book has the Beasmaster Ranger Build which forfeits some of the feats built into the other two classes but gets the animal companion. I guess the martial power book came about because the new power system takes up a lot of room.

It's true that you are much more limited in skill training. Your either trained or not trained +5. After which your ability scores and level plus some feats etc play into it or training can be bought. 

I personally don't think it's bad, but certainly different to what 3.x players are familiar with or used to. There really aren't very many source books out yet, and you can't even be a Bard or Druid till next month (about a year since 4E was released). So you are somewhat limited at this time. I expect 3.x players will grow into it slowly just like migrating from any other system that has been around a long time.

Any business has to make money. I don't think TSR was any different, they released 100's of books and modules. Much more than wizards, and you don't need to buy the extra books. BTW I noticed the new 4E books in the sacramento library catalogue along with a couple of dozen 3.x books. Most of the books that come out are just supplements you can use if you want. I don't see much need for them. I do think PHB2 will be worth getting.

You could play your own D&D game with a d6 and graph paper if you wanted. A bit grass roots. The rules are only there for those that want or need them, and to put everyone on the same page when they move from game to game with other players. Make of them what you like. Remember when the Magic user only got 1d4 hp. Each version of D&D gets more gamey, some might argue that 3.5 became too much of a spreadsheet and lost its way from the original game. 4E  being an attempt to get back to its roots.

When I was a kid I was a big fan 'Elite' of the 8bit game for the BBC computer. Made a whole role playing game around it, a mix of the game, the novella that came with it and starwars :). Climbed up in the rafters of the garage and had some great times without any official rules. For me 80% the rules do are dictate and balance the fighting. The rest I pretty much leave to the DM to decide.

I know what you mean too. When we bought the PHB for 4E my wife wanted to be a Druid. In the end she settled for a modified cleric. That was quite disappointing and a frustration at first. For me the problem isn't so much that there is going to be a PHB2 it's that if they were going to spread everything out so much, they should have released the second book MUCH sooner. bards, Druids and I don't remember what else are popular and interesting choices.

I suppose with races and classes, they might have wanted to mix around the base ones this time around to make it feel different. The PHB is the largest book so I'm not sure they could have put much more in.

I have to say that I don't really care for the Dragonborne. I wasn't familiar with them having not played D&D in a while. When I first picked up the PHB I immediately thought video games and 'Mass Effect' in particular. With Elves and Half-Elves I wasn't sure a third variation in the Eladrin was needed in the basic player rules.

I will be placing my order for the PHB2 next month, but probably not much else for a while.