I like being able to schedule NMs around my life rather than my life around the NMs. I also like being able to actually be able to take my LS to do those NMs instead of just no-lifers being able to attend and get the shinys.
This imo is a good change since there are going to be a lot more pops on the servers now. That 3 hours spent waiting to POSSIBLY get a pop can be spent ACTUALLY working on getting a pop.