Another thing is backward approach to aoe. Hell yeah lets nerf your base aoe and buff the splash aoe of level 90+ skills! Surely it wont affect older content!

If anything, machinist needed straight buffs to both aoe and single target. Aoe kit needs more interaction with itself (Flamethrower with bioblaster is a no brainer, autocrossbow and checkmate/double check is something people begged for ever since i remember).

My understanding is that they wanted to make scattergun a gain on 3 instead of 2. How about buffing 123 combo instead of nerfing scattergun? Boost in single target capabilities in raids where it was lacking and protect its place in aoe heavy content?