As someone who has AST on the side, it's clear that SE did in fact changed their unique identity with the buffs. Of course no one is complaining that the buffs were weak but by changing some of the skills mechanics and not just the numbers, you change what was unique of AST.

The changes most have in question are:

Collective Unconscious now gives 10% dmg reduction and a regen buff that refreshes once inside. This poses a few problems. Firstly by giving both the effects of diurnal and nocturnal, you now lessen the amount of decisions a player has to make. Decisions makes interesting gameplay in my opinion as you actually have to think about things. Now I have to care less about what stance I choose at the beginning of the fight.