So you asked about opinions..
I also think the new features make this season for sure less harsher.
but i think the majority of the people writing here in forum are pvp players. but the majority of ppl playing the game are pve people. and most of the changes are just for them. (kilgore stated this last year or this in forum somewhere). i had a situation yday where some guy dropped in my encounter, i started attacking him and he just shouted "i need one golden gecko skin". i just dropped one and went to exit grid. why i didnt finish him off? no loot but the experience was somehow nice new and friendly.
i dont know how tc changes will affect pvp so i wont comment on it (for now).
ppl were often complaining about hamsters who come with shitty equip to pvp. now you can find out who is the best. you can use good stuff and have fun and can get better and better in situations where you are outnumbered by the enemy faction. no more rq because the enemy suddenly showed up with twice the people on a day where you thought it would be 'safe' to go out with your apa on the commercial catwalk

i think kilgore will adjust some things here and there. but overall i think this is going to bring some fun.
(dunno how i will miss hexing but it seems to have been a bigger problem with hexbots than i was able to imagine)