BasicRules

5e for Free
The document has been out since November of 2018. Not usually the first on the block to go looking for the next new thing, I am just now getting around to checking it out. Free is good. So here are my thoughts on the latest free download version of The Original Game from WizBros.
At 180 pages the 2018 edition is bigger than the combined B/X rule books. My old 2014 version of BasicRules numbers 110 pages, but the 2018 edition adds stats for several monsters which were not in the 2014 edition. I do have a DM BasicRules (also from 2014) that has 61 pages of monsters and DM advice on building combat encounters and magic items...basically the 2018 BasicRules edition combines (and updates) the content of the two 2014 documents.
The very excellent Starter Set box (I should probably devote a post just to the Starter Set sometime soon) unfortunately does not contain rules for chargen. What is contained amounts to one of the best FRPG introductory products I have seen to date, but is limited by its exclusive reliance on a selection of four pre-generated characters. The excellent adventure campaign booklet (64 pages) and starter rules (32 pages) together with the free to download BasicRules (and all the online content available on various forums, blogs and videos, all at no cost) constitutes a powerful combination that I can imagine sparking a lifetime of gaming, even if you buy nothing more.
Looking at the document's contents there are 3 pages devoted to Introduction.  There are 51 pages in Part 1: Creating a Character. Part 2: Playing the Game includes 21 pages subdivided into Using the Ability Scores (6 pages), Adventuring (5 pages) and Combat (9 pages). Part 3: The Rules of Magic contains 27 pages including 23 pages of spell descriptions. Part 4: Dungeon Master's Tools contains 54 pages of Monsters, 2 pages of DM advice on Building Combat Encounters and a page devoted to Magic Items. The document concludes with 5 pages of Appendices and a character sheet. The emphasis seems to be on character creation and combat encounters with virtually no advice on building a setting or how to run a game or campaign (but honestly there is a lot of free advice to be found on those subjects with a quick web search).
If playing the current game with an old school feel is the goal, BasicRules is the place to start. The classic selection of races and classes sets the ball rolling in the right direction. Modification to PC (im)mortality is probably in order to produce that deadly old school feel, however. A simple fix of requiring a number of days (d4 to d6 depending on quality of rest) to pass before characters gain the benefit of a long rest could go a long way toward achieving the goal of feeling "old school". Other "fixes" could include requiring spell casters to memorize their spells and linking experience to overcoming encounters (or directly to gold pcs.), but it's really about how the referee approaches the game. Old School play is dialogue driven. "Talk to me when I ask what does your character do. Don't look to the character sheet for an answer."
As a free download I like the 2018 BasicRules. The hobby now has a pretty complete starter set of current game rules that can support years of play. The limited races and classes that are included suits me fine as they are consistent with the old school choices and BasicRules is the document I would prefer to run 5e with. I also think the BasicRules probably works well for its intended marketing purpose as the document contains many references to the hardcover books (reminding me of Holmes Basic) where additional content and more detailed options can be found such as additional (exotic) races, classes, backgrounds, feats, and monsters. In a culture where "more is better" is a common motto, this free BasicRules should help sell the printed game books.