Its pretty much the same song and dance as CSEX; people drop the series for one reason or another because they don't want to spend money on an update. New players pick up the game because "don't wanna waste money on an older version".
So basically, all this means is that we're just going to get a new influx of players for Summer until BB4 and everyone who left comes back, just like with CP.
In any case, I understand White Man and TD's points a bit more now having it explained to me, the game does feel a lot more generalized across the board and that would make the game feel less creative than before. I actually had the opinion that it was the boring iteration yet(and to an extent, it still is) but I decided to reevaluate and make a second opinion. I believe CP2 wants players to rely more on their fundamentals as a player than their creativity with their gimmicks. It would help justify some of the general buffs everyone has gotten, while most of their drive options are very limited now.
Now do I think this is a good thing? Well yes and no, I don't mind having to rely on my own skills rather than be piggy bagged by gimmicks and scumbaggery, but I still felt there was no reason to gimp so many people's drives. It kind of makes the central mechanic of the game wholly pointless. I mean I'm happy for Makoto and Tager players since they're actually decent now, and even Tsubaki looks like she can actually win. But it's still really annoying to have a character like Hakumen and having his main defensive options only be used for a reversal and no other reward.
I'm still gonna get the game because I'm always looking to improve, but its frustrating to say the least for me. Its probably why so many people have moved onto Ragna, the most fundamental character in the game in addition to all the buffs they gave him.