For me this is a bit simplistic.
4e reminded me of the
story elements of D&D I was familiar with from AD&D and years of using GH as a setting: the various humanoid peoples with their gods (Moradin, Corellon, Grumsh, etc), Demogorgon and Archdevils, wights and wraiths, etc. I thought 4e handled
a version of G2 much better than AD&D did, and
D2 too!
Obviously it differed in its mechanics from 3E at least as far as PC building is concerned. And it dropped 3E's veneer of simulationism. But in some ways it
reminded me of AD&D - it's like someone read Gygax's essays about how hp and saving throws reflect luck and divine inspiration, and built a game that really takes that idea seriously.
Obviously when I say I was reminded of things, I don't mean that 4e emulated them. It built on them and made them better versions of themselves. (And I agree with you that, at least for me, Essentials was frustrating because it reverted back to some extent.)