If the Mrs Flood theory is correct and modern Who is just television fodder. Then Gallifrey still exists (or maybe not depending on when her schism started). It'll be Bob Newhart all over again...

As a DM I'm moving both ASI and origin feats off backgrounds and just their own thing. You get 3 points, a max of 2 can be put to any specific attribute. You can pick any origin feat. That all acolytes are mini clerics is silly. Acolytes can't be good researchers or dabble in arcane magic?

For folks stuck with a stricter DM, there's always the Folk Hero that wasn't updated. Per the backwards compatibility rules, you get exactly what I posted. Any 3 ASI you want, and any origin feat you'd like.

Agreed. Stat mods should just be part of character building. "After rolling stats or spending your point buy, you have 3 additional points to spend, but can only raise any one stat by a maximum of 2."

Free-floating stats have been a thing since Tasha's (and a common house rule since 4th Ed days). Moving them to backgrounds will 100% cause players to create their own backgrounds to grab exactly the attributes and feat they want without being strapped to the same build for every monk, fighter, and wizard.

The half breed rules didn't make it to the PHB, so I have no idea what you're talking about. It's probable that they'll be in the DMG, but not guaranteed. Of course, you can use the UA rules, or the backwards compatibility (hardly "full" though) to use the 2014 races sans attribute bonuses

All in all, it's more of a side grade built to address some lame SJW complaints from a tiny but vocal minority. The few truly innovative ideas like weapon masteries are massively offset by the skill changes that don't make sense and make an already problematic aspect of combat even worse.

Not having read the source material, an example would have helped. I agree with Daniel about Ars Magical (though the rest of the mechanics that aren't tied to magic are kinda meh.

Another great freeform with consequences is WoDs Mage the Ascension.

But for D&D specific, I highly recommend Spheres of Power as alternatives to spell craft. Very flexible, and honestly is a better power boost to match the 5e24 ruleset than the current flock of spells.

I loved the premise the first season gave us. I want more zany superhero realism... I realized after the recap at the start of season 4 that I was watching the show all wrong. I'll go back and rewatch it as a political spy thriller it apparently wants to be. Maybe it'll be better in that light.