I don't write epic fantasy (I classify my genre as "weird stuff") but I have to admit to a few of those --
Roughly square shaped worlds. Oh, shut up....
I do tend to kill almost everyone.
I don't like writing Hard Stuff, like battles, or making it really hard to get into "enemy strongholds" and the like.
And the Loser/Hero.
All my characters are technically "losers", because I have always tried to let them be as human as possible. So I actually take issue with that "recommendation", since I believe the more messed up they are the better.
Ah well. At least my "villains" are really more like tragic heroes to me, so I never fall into the nameless faceless motiveless Dark Lord pit.
Now Eomer, admit it, you think that "breaking rules" is a good thing in general.....