Knee-Jerk reaction to Maokai changes and some old complaints

I get we're pushing him in a different direction, but I feel like there's a huge loss in power with the range nerf to Twisted Advance.

The damage and slow nerfs I can get around, but Twisted Advance being such a good initiation tool is what made Maokai threatening to begin with. What's the justification for this gap-closer now having shorter range than the auto-attack range of every ADC?

Next point: Sapling Toss

We got the slow on the EXPLOSION from this ability. So, what's the combo here? Toss a Sapling. Get the impact damage. Watch as the enemy runs away and the sapling chases them. Blows up, does nothing, and they're STILL out of range for W.

It has ALWAYS bothered me that the range on Sapling Toss and Twisted Advance were so different. I always felt Maokai's effective combo should have been: Throw E. Cast W on same target. E lands pretty close to the same time as Maokai rooting his target. E explodes while they're rooted. Land Q.

Of course, that probably would have been absurd if it was consistently easy to do, but Sapling Toss has a huge wind-up animation, the projectile travels slowly, and you only get half the damage most of the time, because it's pretty easy to outrun the little buggers after they land.

If we're getting a slow on the explosion to help close the gap for W, I think Saplings should detonate instantly if they hit a champion with the impact portion of the skill.

Maokai has always felt a little clumsy. I've enjoyed him regardless of his inconsistencies. I'm not too sure how I feel about the change to Twisted Advance and Sapling Toss.

I love the mana cost reductions, but couldn't we have just tried to put some mana sustain on his passive at some point? That was suggested left and right. I wonder if it was ever iterated and tested internally.

Anyone else have any thoughts?