This game HAS sucked me back in in the same way poe1 did back in the day. While current poe1 I have a real hard time enjoying.
But.. there are 100% things in this that are giant steps backwards.
ascend trials. lab is a million times better.
map proc gen seems much worse.
Build diversity has been on my mind as well.
seeing people make chronomancers, and everyone has the same build. Not only that, every stormweaver ALSO has the same build as every chronomancer..
Because you can't build around A skill. you build around the entire school.
my cold chronomancer doesn't just use frost wall. they use frostwall, frostbomb, frost bolt, coldsnap. archmage. like everyone else. only eye of winter, or freezing shards are optional. and maybe frost nova.
or, blood witch. we could argue on why blood witches aren't played much. if its just mijnions/infernalist is that much better.. or maybe its because theres 3 physical spells in total.
builds in poe2 use every skill available. so end up all the same.