This was never about elitism. It was about player efforts. SE nerfed it accordingly. You can argue for the impacts it has on the PvP scene but SE still decided on it because they saw how players used it.
No, this is not going to change any kind of behaviour but at least it might remove some players from doing PvP solely for the EXP. It's clear that the vocal minority on Reddit and on the OF are going to quit it. Good to know though is that the majority of players are not here or on Reddit. The nerf isn't going to punish anyone who wants to try PvP anyway and if they don't like it, they won't queue it.