After this patch, we can see how the mob ranks go up and get a feel for how consistent or inconsistent the change is.
The move to an 8 person party is good. 15 is just too many to develop a tight strategy. Suppose you were the only highly optimized player in a 15 person party, it wouldnt even make a difference in the fight.
All this new gear is great, but without a solid stat system underneath, it's all for show.
What is the point of making a gear class specific if it does not directly enhance the efficiency of that class?