D&D is it's own thing, and T2k is it's own thing. Both are great. If you strip away the setting and the name of the skills, T2k v1 is a
lot like a heavily house-ruled original (1974 edition, which I own and have played) D&D. In fact, the favoring and slighting stats thing is something I would include in an Original (or advanced) D&D game if asked by the players. I have no problem with it. The stats generation method of T2k produces a range of numbers not unlike D&D's straight 3d6 or 4d6 drop lowest, arrange to taste. T2k tends to have a bigger bell-curve (I notice more 11-14s, for example), I think.
Tonally D&D is a game of big damn heroes, or at least the chance to become. T2k is a survivalist game; it's about trying to crawl up from the mud and darkness and survive, and maybe just maybe do some things that will possibly fix the world, or at least your corner of it, someday.
Finally, at least one campaign world and T2k's shattered Earth are very alike: the World of Greyhawk in D&D (at least original and Advanced D&D, I never had any truck with 2e onward) and the T2k world. The World of Greyhawk
is a post-apocalyptic world. The Suel and Baklunish empires destroyed each other with terrible magic (the Invoked Devastation and the retaliatory Rain of Colorless Fire). Once-common magical items (swords, daggers, etc.) that were easy to manufacture are now cherished magic artifacts, and while more can be made (via enchant an item and permanency spells) it is far more difficult. Same for other magic items as well. The land is dotted with ruins, perilous to travel, and a mass of bandit nations and city states.
Now, does that sound like T2k? It does to me! The Soviet and US empires destroyed each other with terrible weapons (nuclear, biological and chemical). Once-common everyday "miracle" items (fuel, antibiotics, some foods, electricity) that were easy to create are now cherished rarities, and while more can be made (with enough labor and scavenging of parts), it is far more difficult. The land is dotted with ruins, is perilous to travel, and is a mass of bandit nations and city states.
