Unless the skeleton separated by rod is differentiated from necro skeleton, then this XP boost has made necros even less useable. Also this is not a change that just affects HvU, which might go against what the balance team was intending.
In terms of the air changes being removed, I feel kind of like there was no need to go back on this. Late game air is inherently beaten by lower tech units, and the gold/time to build changes were not going to cause all games to become all air. Only the wyvern might have really affected meta, since it is unlocked at t2 instead of t3 like the others, and could have severely punished humans that did not pick archmage first.
I feel like more changes should be made, since I am worried the team will be significantly reduced once 1.33 comes out (and in theory adds back everything), since then the game might seem completed, and less resources put into wc3. So, better to use the time when there is still a full team working on wc3, instead of waiting until the team is reduced and then less changes can be made. It's not just balances changes, but editor changes have been made in recent patches to meet the balance needs, like witchdoctor's stasis additions, and the Pitlord's ultimate' slow ability changes.
I like the human castle gold change alot.
I would hope to see pitlord's reign of fire buffed at late levels. Even though it is learnt as first skill for pitlord 3rd hero rush against undead, it rarely sees level 3 since the rush will either suceed or fail within a few minutes. So buffing it at level 2 and especially at level 3 won't affect its use against human when pitlord is picked 3rd by undead.
I am curious why beetles are being nerfed when DK is still always being picked at high level games, even against human.
Hope to see dreadlord's attack speed increased among other stats, since it is essentially a solo pick hero, unless UD picks it 3rd to catch raiders that are running around the map trying to base aim.
I do not understand why underused skills + heroes in the taverns are not being played around with. If there is fear changes could affect meta, tavern is exactly where to start, since all races have access to it. Buff tinker's attack speed, Dark ranger's drain allow to heal allies for double of what it takes away from her, alchemist chemical rage skill buffed, naga sea witch mana shield buff, fire lord's incinerate buff, etc.
I also want to point out, that despite Wc3 being old, there are still basically tournaments being held very regularly, so I hope the reverted changes in this patch were not done to avoid WGL or WCG being affected, since there will always be a tournament/ pre-tournament stages affected by changes given how regularly stuff is being hosted for Wc3.