Not a lot of you may have noticed, but I have been checking up on Dino Storm. I must say that it really has gone further down the drain. Dino Storm has a great concept with poor execution.
Cash is good for the company, and I've seen how it has influenced development. However, cashflow is more or less fluctuating due to the high number of leaving players and wallet warriors. If they wanted to rake in the dough, why didn't they just listen to what people have to say? I know it's hard work, but hard work DOES pay off. A good support team helps people feel good; wonderful features contribute to the replayability of the game; and a skill-based system can finally award victories to those deserving.
I know that skill-based systems can break the current scheme of "money-in, money-out", but the developers could still find other ways. For example, customizability could cost some gold, but not so much. This includes clothing, titles, custom-colored skins, [customizable armor?] etc. Money should not become the greatest boon to dominant teams; it should only affect a little part of the battle.
The main problem that I see here is that the new changes have been revolving around the old system. Now without the pots. The elite potions weren't really taken out of the game, for they have actually taken a new form (I forgot what they were called but I know they are big boosters that are only available in auctions and gold coin shops). This did not solve anything.
A new, flexible system would become a great solution to both parties' (developers and players) problems. The developers could devise a new system, where unit collisions actually matter etc etc. That way, battles could be even more unpredictable (and fun!). In the players' side, they would be offered things that would alter their appearances, such as the aforementioned custom-colored skins and customizable armor. This way, players can actually feel that they have control over their in-game avatars (such as being able to show them what kind of people they are, say warrish, peaceful, fun, etc). For the battle part, (as previously mentioned) money could aid them, but not in the way that dominion over enemies is automatically at hand.
I would actually like to see if this idea is liked by the active players of today, but the purpose of this post (that is actually a reply to arachyd's word on the subject) is to express my opinion of the "new" battle system.
TL;DR
Combat Redefined is merely an aesthetic upgrade coupled with overly priced items that influence the permanent gameplay and progress of your character. The game could have been better, but progress is hindered by the developers wanting more money instead of wanting more people to get money from.