...indivudual small changes like this [...] are not being made as part of an intelligent, balanced redesign of D&D.
Oh I certainly agree with that - the cynic in me will say that it's almost a certainty that this particular point is one that came about as 'lack of implementation', rather than 'deliberate decision to change'...
I don't think that is cynical at all. It is obvious that many changes are due to lack of implementation, or even lack of knowledge of the core rules. I think Larian is betting that the audience doesn't know the rules either, and will assume it's all being done according to a plan, when it clearly isn't.
