The rate of SB for materia was increased by apparently a good amount, if your fighting the right level monsters. So I assume its to offset that technical increase; although I'm sure SE is always glad for more gil sinks (if the price does indeed go higher cause of this) until stuff like Gold Saucer comes out.

I can't comment to much desynthesis but I can see how that would be greatly annoying. The small bit of time I put into it so far, it seems really chancy and clunky as is, let alone having to fight for the item first.

The hunts were a double edged sword. The people who were in LS's and such constantly farming did lose some overall seals/tomes, but those who go at a more casual rate were given the chance to do so. Also 274 seals a week isn't that bad considering not much effort has to be put into it, as for tomes, they should try to match the reward into DR now for it.