Why was Maokai changed? (tl;dr included)

So I'm late to the party, I guess. (Ok, so please don't randomly downvote, try to see my side of the spectrum. And also, try to have a conversation)

I used to play Maokai a lot before he had his changes. I stopped for a while because I felt like trying out a different role. After a while, I decided to play him again.

So then I look at his W. Its range is abominable in comparison to most tank's initiations.

Vi Q fully charged: 725 Warwick R: 700 Jarvan's E+Q: 770/830 Amumu Q: 1100 Leona E: 875

All of these champions can be played as tanks, or very similarly. They can catch people out of position from a decent, but not a terribly good range. Now here is Maokai. Current range 525. Down from 650, which was already weaker than most. So there, he was already weaker, even if the damage and snare duration were better, in a number of cases, it he'd be outdone due to him being out ranged.

Most marksmen have 550 range, so it'd only make sense that he could catch a marksman out of his own range. But now?

He's forced top. And on top of that, it's reinforced by the damage buff, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the thing is, he didn't need bonus damage. It's nice, but it's not what he needs. Especially in exchange for bonus range. That range is what even made him up to par with other tanks in terms of initiation. From the looks of it, it feels like they're trying to turn him into a Fighter, because no longer can he initiate.

Next I would like to discuss, is his Ultimate.

Instead of being stationary, it's range is reduced, Now it just floats around you.

What this means is that it is less skill / strategically based off, and it just meant to be just another ball of stats.

Isn't this something you wanted to avoid?

Turning something that needed strategically thinking / skill to completely make use of it into something that needs less of one of them, if not both?

I'm not implying that Maokai is a face roll. I'm saying that he just needs less thinking now.

*Instead of dropping a Vengeful Maelstrom where you are, engage on them, (leaving squishies in the Maelstrom) have them think that they can kill you, so when Assassins rush to the back, you can annoy the front line, or peel off the back line, while all reducing damage taken for your back liners, and peeling *

Instead you rush in like a brute, and hope to reduce as much damage while damaging them. You care less about your team, and focuses more on dealing damage.

This of course, means less strategical planning.

Or I'm horribly mistaken.

tl;dr, the changes to Maokai have changed him dramatically, both his play style and his role, and it's forced him into things he shouldn't have been. I don't want to read things like, "cuz esports, cuz money" True or not, it's not necessarily something you should throw out there.

Please, again, I want a real conversation. Thank you for reading this.