There is a general problem that presents itself to us from time to time which is the fundamental "injustices" people experience when we change the stats on food or LP gains. Namely the "How will I ever catch up to the older crowd" problem. We presently maintain a population that has gone through what effectively amounts to several iterations on this game. Lots of shit has continuously changed, and the conditions and rules of today are not the conditions and rules that applied in late May. The character population still has one foot in the rules of late May, and, yes, the bulb reduction will be harsh on new players, as any food nerf would be, but what do you want us to do about it? Never attempt to balance food? Reduce characters?
Therefore the Lord Jorb sent him forth from the garden of Eden. He drove out the hearthling; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The only thing that could possibly resolve these kinds of problems is the sulfur and brimstone of a complete reset. That, however, is pointless if we do not first fix the stuff we want fixed.