The changes are incomplete for lower level players.

They removed "easy mode," which may or may not be good, depending on individual taste. However, they did not make finding parties any easier. So if you are not in a populated hub, you have less to do than before, now that behests can only be done once an hour again and offer average rewards for the opportunity cost of doing them.

So while the removal of fatigue and surplus was a huge plus for me, because I only wanted to level a couple of classes, I can't really take advantage of it without something like a static party to catch up.

And from what I've seen thus far, even during prime time, there are less people at lower level camps than before 1.18.