Aura stacking isn't so prevalent anymore - mana reserved gem doesn't work for auras.
So far I played it till I ripped on the final boss in Cruel and for me game is definitely better than before:
+ NO desync... this is pretty hard to understand if you never played, but it's the best change they've ever made (and it was about time).
+ First 3 acts got streamlined, with many repetitive levels being removed so you are less bored while levelling.
+ Every act has a gem vendor that sells nearly every gem available for cheap. No more need to spam trade chat simulator if you want to use a spell on your marauder and paying retarded prices at the start of a new ladder.
+ Bosses in the new act have interesting mechanics and are fun to play against.
- Drop rates are still terrible - game is balanced around being a trade economy and so you will have to trade to get GOOD gear. This is a tedious process that involves using a 3rd party software to generate a shop on the game forum, which then gets indexed by a 3rd party site and blabla... I get bored just hearing about it.
- New act content and bosses are very melee unfriendly and ranged channel skills unfriendly (of which there are a lot).
Neutral: gameplay is still the same. You pick one skill you like, build your tree around it and support it with the best gems in your opinion. This always leads to the gameplay being - spam 1 skill, buff yourself, debuff monsters, summon pets (there are new golems, that you can have 1 of, which are very tanky and provide bonuses like 15% increased dmg). That's why I only play HC in this game. Otherwise I get bored way too easily if there is no risk due to the above.