To me they aren't dumbing it down but rather making every single AP count.

It is actually managing to make the game a lot more strategic then the billions of AP points you had before. As well as adding leagues of balance.

The previous system isn't bad... but this new one is... kind of better when it comes to what it was trying to attempt.

So instead of moves costing random amounts of AP, instead the AP costs are tied directly to how useful they are compared to similar moves.

As well because you have less AP you have to make it all count AND you cannot simply win battles anymore by having 5 attacks to the enemies 2.