Yes that is the reason for the "downgrade".
But this is the current state of things, and we should be looking at substats as they are now, and not as they were.
And where they are now = useless (for lack of a better term)
I do agree with you in that, I hope as ilvl increases they play more of a role in gear choices, and that sub stats scale correctly.
Or that we are given gear choices at all. (currently we have no choices, unless you are a tank)
I guess we will see in about a day with esoterics and savage gear.