I don't know about elves and dwarves, but just about every race could be a human hybrid.
But it came with stat hits. Half-elves were more like humans than elves, etc.
And from what it seems, they're separating stats from race/species. Which is probably an overall good. I'm going to use the older terminology as this was the issue with the older game. If you wanted to be a wizard, you should be an elf. If you wanted to be an elf, you should be a wizard. And things like that. Certain classes just worked better with certain races.
But now, if I want to be an elf barbarian, that's better supported. I'm not fighting the game rules to play the role I want to.
You're right it's not ideal that races shoehorn you into certain classes, but on the other hand you don't want someone's race to be flavortext. I think there's a balance to be struck. I doubt DnD will find it on the first shot, but I'm looking forward to what it looks like for the version after next.
Elves and dwarves still keep their night vision, elves don’t sleep, dwarves have a better save vs poison (IIRC).
I do like how they’ve opened up the species in general. I have a character in a campaign that is essentially based on my cat, a tabaxi rogue with impulse control issues.
But it came with stat hits. Half-elves were more like humans than elves, etc.
And from what it seems, they're separating stats from race/species. Which is probably an overall good. I'm going to use the older terminology as this was the issue with the older game. If you wanted to be a wizard, you should be an elf. If you wanted to be an elf, you should be a wizard. And things like that. Certain classes just worked better with certain races.
But now, if I want to be an elf barbarian, that's better supported. I'm not fighting the game rules to play the role I want to.