As "tin foil hat" as this could come off, it's also the first thing I thought of when I read your post patch posts (say THAT three times fast!)...
Every year we come up with workarounds based on Coach Philosophy Sliders / Player Priorities / Penalties to Affect Gameplay / and many more that I simply can't recall off the top of my head, only to see those options neutered or removed in their entirety thereafter...
Been here tooooooo long NOT to notice all that...coincidence or not or maybe?