User blog comment:AcesRockz/Bloodlust Decline/@comment-7929684-20160219112400

1 Fervour was way way weaker.

2 Shiv and rapidfire cannon were much stronger incentivising a crit/attack speed item rush

3 it procced on minions allowing you to effectively have lifesteal from first back even though you bought a zeal (usually)

so yeah, those 3 factors combined made it very very strong.