1. Nobody is surprised that nerfs were coming. People are surprised that a basic fucking move that is available to everyone in the roster, JiP > [starter] > [special move that staggers], has been removed. That's like making scorpion's spear so slow that you can't connect it after a JiP and a starter. NOBODY expected that level of stupidity
2. They've been so caught up with "leveling" the playing field, in a fighting game that they didn't realize that you can go overboard in doing so. You want to level the playing field, look at Kung Lao shenanigans or Kung Jun. 2 characters that most don't consider broken yet are a million times better than the current CSZ. How is this leveling exactly? Some characters will always be better but it doesnt mean u bring them from A tier to shit tier. That's not balancing.
3. Figure out a better way to use him? Have you been in the lab with him? Is he still useable? sure, all characters are. But why would anyone want to be frustrated as fuck playing a character when better characters exist that do more damage and have an easier execution. This is a competition, which by definition should have a leveled playing field as you say, CSZ, at the current time, is not up to par to do any kind of competition.