The problem is that previous updates only invalidated specific pieces or specific weapons with something that was slightly better. Kitty pants were still good to use until you were able to get your +2 Empyrean on the jobs where it was deprecated (or Bustle Dirs for SAM, etc.)
SE has just invalidated three entire classes of weapons, things that took more casual players many years to finish, and things that took hardcore players a great deal of time and effort to finish quickly. Either way, anyone who has one put in a crap ton of time. The only people who weren't totally ****** over by this are bards and paladins.