My dyna shell has two relic holders, a mandau and an apocalypse, the drk has magian upgraded apocalypse that still out does anything I've seen empyreans turn out to be. So honestly I dont see that the OP really has much to complain about. When a relic drk can casually throw out a 3k cataclysm without soul eater outside abyssea, That's a pretty damn powerful weapon.
Apoc was never that great and now it's even worse compared to what else is out there, it's one claim to fame is also gone. Since it's aftermath is +10 gear haste and haste is so easy to cap even that is out the window.

Catastophe was never a good WS, other WS do far more damage. I've seen plenty of apocs in action and they are far from impressive.