True it may be but D&D is still by far one of the more popular RPGs out there and for that reason alone it must be doing something right.
I think it's PR they are doing right.
It's an old game with a loyal fanbase that defined a whole genre of games. But now, with all the better options, it's pretty much obsolete. It's just that most gamers don't know the other options that deserve more love.
Basically, it's popular because it's well-known, it's well-known because it's popular. It's a positive feedback.
I'd like to bash this game a little more ;D.
I think combats are not deadly enough. The only thing you risk from that firebreathing behemot ? losing HP. Seriously how wrong is that? I want my character to be at risk, When I put him in combat, I want him to risk his skin, I wanna see people getting maimed. I wanna have my character's girlfriend cheating on him because she can no longer bear to see his scared face. I wanna see the other players think before they engage a fight. I wanna make a plan with the other players to tackle that stronghold.
I also hate, really really hate Vancian magic. This thing makes absolutely no sense to me. You're a wizard? fine. You can make fireballs? Good. What? you can engulf the whole room into flame and at the same time cannot light my cigar ? How pathetic! In DnD, the spellcaster progression makes little sense. " Oh yeah, I nuke the whole place, now, I can still go do the iron man, but for some reason I can cast no more spells. That makes sense.