I would like to skip the introduction to my argument and immediately get to the point. The "one size fits all" approach to launching armor attacks is a flawed mentality that certain individuals in this community have ignorantly been promoting since Mortal Kombat 9, and I was sad to read the patch notes and observe that NRS had finally conceded. While Sonya's EX cartwheel in Mortal Kombat 9 and Tremor's pre-patch EX low stone shatter are questionable launching armor attacks, the majority of pre-patch launching armor attacks in Mortal Kombat X were not questionable. They were perfectly balanced moves from a gameplay perspective. In reality, nothing was wrong with Johnny Cage's EX nut punch, Kano's EX ball, Kung Lao's EX spin, Predator's EX stab, Reptile's EX claw, etc. All of these launching armor attacks were unsafe on block. If you blocked them, the player was able to perform a combo that usually did around 30% of meter-less damage. If they hit, the player was able to perform a combo that usually did no more than 30% of damage. The risk versus reward ratio was fair, balanced, and rational.
The unintended consequence of the universal changes to launching armor attacks are as follows from my limited time of playing and observing the new version of the game.
1. Offensive options, at least in certain match ups, are better than they were pre-patch. Many characters' armor moves only deal about 10-15% of damage, which the aggressor can more or less ignore.
2. Characters who relied on launching armor attacks as a primary strategy might have become much worse (i.e., Balanced Kenshi and Crystalline Tremor). EX rising karma for Kenshi and EX low stone shatter for Tremor are by and large entirely worthless moves now.
3. The characters with the currently best armor attacks in the game, namely Ermac and Kitana, initially appear to be very strong characters. Whoever has access to the best defensive options in Mortal Kombat X will likely end up a top tier character due to the offensive nature of the game.
I am personally uncertain where this new version of the game is any better than the last one. I would like the game to be better. I want the game to be better. However, I think the manner in which launching armor attacks have been managed is a failure. The manner also lacks variety and promotes "more of the same" gameplay that we have already seen a thousand times in the past.