This happens every even patch. There is nothing new with those changes.
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ngl I don't think it really matters. Savage is more or less a difficulty level that's been perfectly puggable week 1 for a long time, and some more edge on characters here or there isn't the biggest deal in the world in the grand scheme of things.
If you're looking for that really tough challenge, that is partly why they created the Ultimate difficulty. Savage as-is is generally difficult enough for the majority of players, with exceptions trending to the more high end players and, ever since Ultimate was created, Savage isn't meant to be that same type of challenge for higher end players.
Granted, if Savage itself was a lot more difficult than it is now you'd also probably see a drop off in participation which would directly hurt that content and the people who do enjoy doing it and find it difficult enough, which is likely a lot more people than those who genuinely do find Savage easy or very easy.
an extra tome piece I don't feel would really make that big of a difference to the average participant.
OP is trying to make something out of nothing. Won't affect savage week 1 clears. Majority of good players who actually clear savage tier are in the weeks 2-4 up to before the catch-up patch on month 3.
Plus they assume the balancing will be the same and it won't be, they are clear as day first-tier is always the easiest.