Before Heavensward, the numbered patches came at a 3 months interval roughly. It meant new quests, new instances, new gear and new tomestones. You had time to upgrade your mains, and even equip your alternative classes.
Now, Heavensward has not even been out officially for a month (official launch was the 23rd of june), and I feel I'm getting overwhelmed with the new upgrades.
Technically speaking, everything that's out right now is stuff that was "supposed" to be out as soon as HW launched. The only reason Alex was held back so that people could "take their time" and enjoy the storyline.