SB AST was fine. It's just WHM wasn't comparable. Not because AST was too good but because WHM was flawed.

Cards had to be valuable because you had to clip your gcd. A lot of the value is lost on your gcd but given to someone else. This was acceptable but clunky. Then they nerfed Balance to 10% but gave Malefic 1.5 cast. Which meant you didn't have to completely clip your gcd anymore. This was great even if it was a nerf.

Now you have more cards to spam without a proper weave. The cards are weaker and the values don't justify the costs of the weaves.

Malefic should be an instant cast if cards are going to be so weak. Yet it still isn't.