The total power rework, the single hotbar, the streamlined skill system...
... this makes the game very playable with a controller. This means this update is likely being made in prep for the release of this game on consoles.
(for the record, I am in favor of this)
The changes shown to Loki, for example, the auto-targeted AOE powers... very very console/controller friendly. I expect most of the new powers to not require as much "mouse pointing." The game will likely be more geared toward twin-stick based powersets. Pointed-channels, auto targeted AOE's, more "movement" powers, more viable melee powers; these changes are most likely being made with the endgame of a console release in mind.