nobody is concerned mages are losing half their spells?

[Alerith]

Pretty much this. They seem to be trying to simplify things ("this won't require a manual to understand"). I doubt they'd change it to something so complicated.

Pushing three buttons total instead of two is complicated?

Select spell > Enter
Select spell type > Select Spell > Enter

3 > Enter
1 > 3 > Enter

It's hardly complicated at all.