I agree with you about salted earth, and I see no reason why It couldn't have been left at 45 seconds and 75 potency.

Quietus change seems to be in the direction of reigning in our resource generation in large pulls. Stalwart soul appears to function like Syphon strike giving back only a set about of mp. Dark Knight seems slown down for no reason. People didn't really care for the dark arts spam, but I am pretty sure most people play dark knight for the speed which has been heavily reduced.