Distance from the target has NEVER been a factor in this game or the previous one. You always only had to care about being in range of the skill/weapon or not.
If anything, now they even introduce high grounds etc.
I'm not sure why that's suddenly so surprising to you.
Also, you keep talking about all the extensive tests you made (which you are not detailing too much here, so it's hard to judge) but I'm still not sure how any of what you are pointing should suggest unfairness.
