The changes haven't bothered me as a primary (though casual) RDM player -- getting Prefulgence immediately feels a bit unsatisfying for vibes, but the other side of the coin is feeling like I'm not pulling my weight in Pilgrim's Traverse because the monsters are dead by the time I can use my big spells. Neither feels good but I'm not sure which is preferable.

The "ranged melee phase" doesn't bother me. It just feels like every so often I temporarily geta chance to charge up and fling spells that are normally used at melee range. It's all enchantment on the rapier either way -- the whole melee phase functions around the idea you can't just go hitting things with your weapon if it isn't magicked up first.