They are doubling down the gameplay simplification... really?

[Supersnow845]

Correct, non-standard is optional and not that many people use it. Standard players wouldn't feel that much difference.

Emphasis on optional. If it's optional difficulty for people who want that sort of gameplay and it does not effect the average player whatsoever, what's the point of this change other than a massive fuck you to people who actually did like it?

Standard players are going to feel the increased rigidity and the higher punishment

No sharpcast to generate weave windows, a more brutal fire phase as the punishment for dropping out of fire is now the loss of flare star, your DOT is no longer fluid you basically just press it swapping into umbral ice the loss of movement from ice paradox which could be slotted near anywhere in the ice phase for the ultra rigid fire paradox

This is ironically going to make standard harder