I've finished hacking these changes into ShadowCraft and I am convinced that these changes should not go live.
First some numbers from ShadowCraft using a reasonably optimized ilvl 535 gear snapshot that I think shows the problem with this proposed change.
DPS:
Code:
w/o T15 4pc w/ T15 4pc
Curr: 223912.042673 252443.222322
Prop: 212873.372094 255493.333188
AR Cooldown:
Code:
w/o T15 4pc w/ T15 4pc
Curr: 63.2196410691 58.4801016488
Prop: 64.8810669465 50.8543982647
T15 4pc EP Value:
Code:
Curr: 12195.5382051
Prop: 19186.9581447
What you'll notice is that the proposed scheme is dps neutral only in the presence of T15 4pc and is a substantial dps loss without. Obviously numbers can be tuned but this is a step in the wrong direction.
The proposed changes make zero difference in spamminess during AR+SB which is the primary source of the complaints and slows down the spec the rest of the time. This seems directly opposite to what theses changes should do. Additionally these changes only further serve to prop up the T15 4pc which has been an overpowered set bonus from day 1 and is unlikely to be replaced during T16 without substantial nerfs.
Additionally these changes create substantial quality of life issues of leveling and low gear level players. Combat can already be quite frustrating at low gear levels because of limited haste and this will only serve to exacerbate that issue. In fact with these changes it is entirely possible that a poorly geared player could have their BG stacks fall off while using BF.
I see no good reason for these proposed changes. While I am glad that Blizzard is paying attention to combat rogue issues but these changes are not the correct fix.