Unfortunately, Mr. Drader here may be suffering from some significant sampling bias. The people he’s spoken to may have fond memories of AD&D or 1e, and have a longing for a more deadly, chaotic time where the inability to truly internalize the world of monsters and men can lead one to follies that result in dread consequences, but seemingly the overwhelming majority of TTRPG players today want and expect either superball characters that bounce back like magic, or rigid and predictable rules that can be mercilessly exploited with the proper solicitor.

Neither of these groups really understands what balance is, but one of them would prefer never to think of it – for them, it just gets in the way of the Rule of Cool – while the other uses it as a cudgel to beat GMs with when they face something they can’t cut down with rote memorization.

There’s zero reason that balance and realism need be in conflict. They are not inherently opposing forces. But seemingly no one actually wants a balanced game, because those crying out for realism kick dirt at the concept just as often as those seeking to play as invincible superheroes or masterful exploiters do.