Rule systems that are heavy, modular, and not properly proofread and streamlined become subject to what I will call "rules rot." Rules rot is similar to bit rot. When a rule system is suffering rules rot, then it has a large number of exceptions, complications, contradictions and redundancies that make book keeping a bigger chore than it was before.
Pathfinder is an excellent example of a rules system suffering from rules rot. FantasyCraft is an example of how a system that complicated avoids rules rot.
Pathfinder is extremely complex and full of silly sacred cows, but is by far the most popular and well-supported retroclone. Some alternate and third party rules are mandatory. Pathfinder Unchained fixes basic problems like combat and the Christmas tree effect. Spheres of Power makes magic-users less omnipotent and more flavorful. Path of War gives fighters nice things. It's too bad it couldn't have gone the way of Trailblazer or True20.
Fifth Edition still hasn't slaughtered the stupider sacred cows that even True20 did away with. In other news, Lord of the Rings has officially licensed itself as a campaign setting.
I really can't decide on a system to build my homebrew around. I'm not going to build a new game because that's insane. Taxidermic Owlbear and Old School Renaissance Handbook are good resources for all the many options available for fantasy roleplaying.
Castles & Crusades or Blood & Treasure use a simplified third edition base. Definitely something to keep in mind. I had fun reading the books for inspiration.
13th Age certainly fixes a lot of the problems associated with third and fourth edition. The design approach is certainly flavorful.
Mazes & Minotaurs is great for alternatives to eurofantasy. Great inspiration too, even has a Norse mythology supplement.
Classic Fantasy, previously published under Basic Roleplaying and later Mythras, is entirely skill-based. Classes are collections of skills, so multiclassing or even making up your own is simple and easy. The only other comparison would be Basic d20.
Basic Fantasy has an awesome community contribution thing going on. It even has fantasy space travel in the form of Voidspanners!
OSRIC, Dark Dungeons, Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, For Gold & Glory, Blueholmes et al are probably good inspirations what with being the foundation of the first wave of retroclones. I'm still not clear on the waves distinction.
I've heard good things about Adventures Dark & Deep, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Monsters & Magic, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Dungeon World, Hackmaster, Ambition & Avarice, Wayfarers and Adventurer Conquer King, but I'm not sure until I read more.
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