Seeing the notes, I'm going to say this; I am 100% thrilled with the change. There is something that people haven't considered and I run this content with ITFs and TinPex and Apex runs.
There is an uncomfortable amount of people who do nothing but AE farming to the point that they don't know the content. They don't know how to play, much less what else they need to do. There has been more then one occasion where I am trying to lead people in the ITF where people are purposely sitting as if expecting a free grind or they don't know what to do at all.
The core part of farming remains the same; you can still grind for exp from 1 through 50. You can get exp to unlock your incarnate slots. Those are the most important things to farm for; after that, you have to play the content. This is a good thing even if I wish more people would play the game and learn it. These are good steps in the right direction.
AE Farming should be helping toward the goal, not BE the goal. There's so much to this game and this whole thing is necessary. You can just as easily get your veterans with ITFs on a good run or running other content. I would know, this is ALL I do every time I play. I farm up to 50; radios, AE farming, etc. Once there, I set up what build I've got and run ITFs and everything else I've got. It is ridiculous how fast you can get your veterans - at least 2 or 3 a pop on a great run.
These changes are necessary and it does not change the core purpose of farming; getting to 50 and potential incarnates ASAP.
(TBH I think new people in the game should have to level to 50 first before even allowed to touch AE but that's just me.)