E.D. was needed for the longevity & health of the game.
You get folks pining, bitching, and looking at everything before E.D. with rose tinted glasses coated in shit. Bemoaning about the before times. But overall, it extended the game. Improved it's overall health and did bring in more folks.
After it, they brought in Recipes, put in the Rules of 3 & 5 for said recipes. (Not counting Unique). Then several have Global effects.(Meaning they just need to be in a power somewhere you get the buff no matter if it's on or not).
Overall. Just mechanical changes.