Man in the Funny Hat
Hero
I really enjoy 1E AD&D. It's not all because of nostalgia (but it helps). I would happily railroad new players into enjoying it with me upon pain of death - but then they'd have me there to help them get past all the foofaraw. For anyone trying to get into AD&D (even 2E) on their own it will fight them. AD&D does it's own gatekeeping and always has. I think OSRIC might be a good alternative, but IMO when it comes down to it - if it's AD&D you truly WANT, then accept no substitutes. Wanting something simpler, easier to reference, easier to teach/learn, etc. it actually does mean that you DON'T really want AD&D. AD&D has flaws. A lot of them. Some big, some little. You either can get into it/get over it, or you play something that to one degree or another is actually not AD&D.