I think they’re an ideal entry point for a class of new players.

They’re the worst possible entry point for a different class of new players.

I’ve seen people who’ve expressed interest in RPGs coming from the stance of improvisational theatre, in effect, who got turned off by the wargame qualities of OSR games but who fell in love with games like FATE or their ilk. Similarly I’ve seen people coming at tabletop games from, say, computer gaming who didn’t like the subjectivity of the more drama-oriented games, but loved the OSR vibe.

There is no silver bullet, in short. OSR games are good for introducing new players of a mind to enjoy the OSR style to the hobby, but that rapidly becomes a truism that applies to literally every kind of game.

I believe linear adventures are an especially bad fit for new game masters and it’s so wack that so many “introductory adventures” are linear.

Location sandboxes a la OSR or story/drama/collab impro can both work really well. As others are saying, it depends on what the player is looking for.

Navigating a world of danger and rewards, vs, being a co-author/actor in an unpredictable narrative. Both styles can work.

Unlike 90s games’ linear GM-led storytelling.

Totes.

I’ve had fun introducing new players with funnels. Makes the aware of the world’s danger, and in the end they get a character they are attached to