I think it was the third edition of Warhammer that i loved.
The book anyway. It had humorous art in the margins, and was light and fun.
The next edition was all dark... it was all about never ending war...

But, really, the last time i played 40k i had space marines, and then, all of a sudden, i need to be playing the specialized groups, or you were so rules nerfed that you just should stop playing.

I guess my friend said it best. These guys who do the rules all just play themselves and are very fair and don't try to bend the rules.... and so, when these rules get into the hands of real players, all kinds of unintended consequences come out.