It's unlikely the stat squish affected this because it only applied to content above item level 50 and would not have much impact until level 60 content.

Looking at a guide from 2013, it looks like this has been how it is for as long as the game has been here. The guide recommends taking out the two conjurers and two melee where you start, then the archers on the stairs, then the black mages at the top, then Gotwin Halehex who is doing the healing, then Gigirya the Guarded (you can interrupt Void Call with your stun), then all of the remaining enemies and then The Temperance last. It says that if you don't do it in this order you might take too much damage.