FrogReaver
As long as i get to be the frog
#1 I think you missed my larger point - without the internet to really talk through such things at the time, there wasn't really a place where people really got together to do that. Even if they had those opinions they likely wouldn't be expressed, or if they didn't have those opinions it's probably because they never thought on the topic at the time and then as soon as they do think on it... they form those same opinions.Well, I was around when 2e was written, nobody that I know complained about it. Heck, there's a ton of once-per-day stuff in 1e as well! For example a 7th level Druid (Initiate of the 5th Circle) gets "Ability to change form up to three times per day" which is actually even more restricted to only allow each form to be assumed once per day. Paladins get 'lay on hands' once per day, and Cure Disease once per week (more uses gained at higher levels). Paladins have the most time-restricted ability of all 'call for his warhorse' ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS. Monks have a once per day 'self heal' ability, and the 'Quivering Palm' which can only be used once per week.
I'm pretty sure ALL of these strictures predate 1e as well, as all these classes appear in D&D or one of its supplements, or in SR/TD. I don't disagree that 4e surfaces this kind of mechanic to a much higher degree, but still, nobody made so much as a peep before 4e.
And #2, most of what you cite is magical in origin and no one has a problem with limits on magical in origin abilities - because they are magic and that's just how magic works in the fiction. I really don't understand why we keep circling the wagons on this one.