Can we discuss a trade on Azir?

Most mages have a stun to land their kit and burst... but Azir isn't a burst mage. He deals consistent damage so he doesn't have a reason for CC besides random CC because he can. I don't know, I don't play Azir much but it seems like that'd be a bit overboard.

I always wondered why his E even had a knockup. Like his Q, W and somewhat his ult say "stay back", but his E says "dash into them" lol.

The reason I want it back because it breaks Azir's linear play style of farming/poking most of the game and makes playmaking more rewarding. It was a "hit confirm" for the shurima shuffle / drift into the Emperor's divide. It also makes more sense thematically. Flying into someone would knock them up, not give you a shield.

For an Azir player, drifting into someone knocking them up, then ulting them was incredibly satisfying. Removing it was akin to increasing Zed's R swap delay. It's a nerf, of course, but it's also a huge blow to the fluidity and fantasy of the champion.