Azael
Magister
Tough call really. I'd say that both systems have their merits and drawbacks. Classbased system as they are done in D&D suck, simply because the way they're constructed with tons of classes and prestige classes pretty much encourage players to multiclass which I believe defeats the point of classes in the first place.
My preference would be a system where a class is treated as a background for your character, what you've been doing with your life before you decided (or were pushed) into an adventuring life, the accumulated knowledge and experience you've gathered so far. Each class should represent an archetype that's fitting in the game world and you should be able to customize your class with different traits as well as choosing areas where you've focused your training so that two level one fighters aren't automatically the same. As you advance, you don't gain levels as a fighter, nor can you suddenly decide to become a wizard or scholar. Advancement would be skill and perk based, but what skills and perks are available and how easy it is for you to learn them depends on your class, just as your starting attributes is also influenced by your choice.
Basically, a system that isn't as free form as a purely skill based one, nor as restrictive as most class based ones.
My preference would be a system where a class is treated as a background for your character, what you've been doing with your life before you decided (or were pushed) into an adventuring life, the accumulated knowledge and experience you've gathered so far. Each class should represent an archetype that's fitting in the game world and you should be able to customize your class with different traits as well as choosing areas where you've focused your training so that two level one fighters aren't automatically the same. As you advance, you don't gain levels as a fighter, nor can you suddenly decide to become a wizard or scholar. Advancement would be skill and perk based, but what skills and perks are available and how easy it is for you to learn them depends on your class, just as your starting attributes is also influenced by your choice.
Basically, a system that isn't as free form as a purely skill based one, nor as restrictive as most class based ones.