My impression of the GU subreddit is that a lot of newer players just go to shill/protect the cards they spent money on. They either have no idea what makes a card game fun/balanced or they willfully ignore it in favor or trying to pump their bags.
I have fun with Chiroptic Hemovore in my face race death deck. This change might actually make it workable in nether decks as you say. One of the few that heals you instead of hurts you.
Pact Fiend is now potentially a competitor with Void Banshee. 3 self-damage instead of 4, but much easier to remove. I think I still like Banshee better, but worth trying him out.