This is the first time I have heard of FATE and that is interesting! From what I'm reading, it's highly free-form, with stuff normally associated with characters or the setting being referred to as aspects (like some kind of adjective or attributes of a programming class), which can be called upon to give bonuses provided you have enough fate points). The free-form part comes from the aspects being basically anything related to the characters/setting at hand. I guess it does put a lot of onus on both the DM and the player to collaboratively figure out how to find creative solutions to problems, but in a way that isn't mechanically restricted.

From what I've seen from the suggestions so far, rules-lite/abstract helps to mitigate some of the rube-goldbergy-mad-contraption-tzeentchian-ness that seems to be inherent in rpgs (and probably human nature lol), but not by "restricting" players in a strictly defined box of rules. Rather, rules-lite systems allow for the rube-goldbergy-mad-contraption-tzeentchian-ness to feel less like breaking the system and more like building the system (within reason and the DM's judgment), which is huge. So either that or a heavy narrative focus seems to work well in theory.

Oh don't get me wrong, I play D&D and love it as well haha

I was just curious about other systems and how their approaches to rules, balance, and storytelling affect how players play as well (and DMs DM), seeing as there's a myriad of different systems each with different goals and mechanics. I haven't played any other system on the tabletop, as my group hasn't really tried playing other systems yet (only crpgs based on other systems, plus me reading manuals and rulesets because why not)

I can see how a rules lite system would prevent random pushing of the system until it breaks type of gameplay, ala PbtA games. Plus with more emphasis on crafting a narrative vs focusing on the best combination of stats/skills/interactions, there's less incentive to turn the mechanical knobs until something ends up broken.