Recommend a system for me

I'd like to get away from d&d and try something new.

So I asked myself the question, what would I want in an rpg?

A bit of crunch but not super rules lawyer stuff. Something like Pathfinder would be on the too much crunch side.

D&d is where I come from, but have played other systems. While crunchy, 5e isn't too crunchy, or too lite, but also I'm over the power creep.

I like Fate core but have found explaining the concepts of invoking aspects and making stunts to confuse most players. People seem to prefer being told roll this, add that, rather than roll, then if you can think of a way to get a bonus from an aspect do it.

I have been considering something like shadowdark or index card rpg but these may be too lite. Especially ICRPG

Characters that change and evolve in response to in game progression, maybe items, not just gained exp and can now blast fire from their hands.

Items that can define characters and make them cool. If you defeat the fire giant king, and now wield Flamescourge the king's blade, it does something badass that you want to keep and use. It won't be overshadowed because you leveled up and can now do way cooler stuff just because you killed enough goblins.

I think it would be interesting to think about what weapon you use, or what armour to use. Maybe weapon types give different bonuses, same with armour.

Easy to explain and help new players grok

Players able to effect their build through making actual choices about their character. Either classes or classless, I don't mind.

Maybe skills based progression?

A more horizontal growth than exponential upwards

Not necessarily low magic, wizards and magic is fine, but keep it rare and mystical.

Deadly - not necessarily making new characters every few sessions, but the possibility of death should exist.

System - not married to a D20 system, but I guess they're easiest to explain to new players. Wouldn't be against a dice pool system, so long as it's not fistfuls of dice all the time

Genre - fantasy mostly, but if it can be adapted that's fine. Not necessary though

Happy to homebrew whatever is needed, just looking for a good skeleton