I am going to have to 100% disagree with that, because it ignores a lot of things the fighter could do, under the rules, that people tend to overlook that did not play extensively in 1e.
To start:
1. Fighters were the only class that could take advantage of percentile strength, which made fighters the best melee combatants, which made fighters the best combatants (since melee was better than missile in 1e). Just think- any class other than fighter was restricted to +1, +2, whereas fighters could go all the way to +3, +6, and they could even open magically locked doors.
While I agree this MAY be the intent of the rules, both Paladin and Ranger are specifically stated to be 'fighter sub-classes' in the PHB, and all that the Strength rule says is that 'fighters' can get exceptional strength. I think if you take that literally, it extends to all three (sub)-classes.
Beyond that though, this is a trivial limitation in that few PCs will have an 18 to put in anything, plus , though that depends on exactly what method you use to roll up characters. I'd also argue that an 18 DEX or perhaps 18 CON will serve you quite well. Additionally AD&D 1e has ONLY Strength increasing magic items, no other ability score has this, so there's at least always the hope that you will drop a set of Gauntlets of Ogre Power (18/00) or some sort of Girdle (19+). In that case your Strength score is kinda moot from then on. Beyond that, a raw 18 by itself is +1/+2, and you have to roll above 50% to get a +2/+3, +3/+6 is vanishingly unlikely. Thus very few PCs will really be facing this sort of trade off.
2. Fighter were the only class that could take advantage of the hit point bonuses for having a Con of over 16. If you wanted more hit points, you needed to be a fighter- otherwise you were stuck, at best, with +2hp/level (fighter could get up to +4).
Again, this doesn't comport with a strict reading of the PHB from what I can see. In fact this is made explicit on P12, where it explains that Paladins and Rangers ARE fighters (the Strength table lacks this notation, but this strengthens the case for them getting % Strength too).
3. Of course, fighters were also the only class that got d10 hit points. So there was that, too.
True, but a starting Ranger with an 18 CON would get PLUS EIGHT hit points (2d8+8). Even on average fighters don't catch up to Rangers before 5th level, and higher CON can extend that to as much as 12th level. This is all assuming you don't use the common "max hit points at level 1" house rule, which pretty much gives Rangers the most hit points at all levels.
4. Fighters were the only class that could use any weapon (okay, assassins as well). Every other class had massive weapon restrictions- not the fighter.
I don't know of any weapon or armor restriction on Rangers. 1e PHB certainly does not impose any.
5. Fighter (and clerics) were the only class that had unrestricted armor and shields.
Again, I see nothing to indicate that this is true. Depending on how you interpret restrictions of things to "the fighter class" or "fighters" you may or may not exclude them from certain MAGIC weapons. However most such items don't have restrictions at all, fighters are simply the class who can generally wield something like a longsword (thieves, clerics, druids, wizards, all cannot) but rangers and paladins sure can.
6. Fighters got multiple attacks per round; no other class did.
Again, not true. PHB P25 shows that all the fighter sub-classes get this benefit, though rangers version kicks in at slightly higher levels.
Finally, fighters had a huge selection of magic items because they had unrestricted armor and weapons- in addition to the things they had as fighters.
I can't emphasize this enough- fighters rocked in 1e. The ability to wear any magic armor and use any magic shield meant that the fighter would have a low ac, quickly- and low ac really, really mattered. The ability to use any magic weapon (subject to proficiencies, of course, which again ... the fighter was best at) meant that the fighter was dealing the most consistent damage.
The issue was just that the Paladin and the Ranger got everything the fighter did, plus more.
Exactly, they get EVERYTHING the fighter gets, and more. If you qualify for one of these classes there is absolutely no reason beyond personal preference not to go for it, and given how uncommon the prerequisites will be, you are probably silly to pass up the chance!
