User blog comment:Emptylord/Blogs/Reworked Runes (2015)/@comment-4022742-20150518073358/@comment-3974211-20150520120405

I really don't think that mana regeneration is the pressing issue presented by the above changes, if Riot does care quite so much about small numbers - although I'm not so convinced Riot makes small number changes for balance goals (rather, just to appeal the rioting community - since playrate usually coincides with balance changes, but winrate usually isn't affected by small number changes).

No, not factoring quintessencesm the pressing issues are: mages/supports having access to offensive stats; tanks only having access to one defensive stat; marksman/autoers gain access to utility stats; etc. Big number changes.

All that said, runes fail because of the rune page and out-of-champion-select restrictions - they're suppose to encourage individuality, but most players use the same runes across a diverse pool of champions. Masteries suffer a similar issue. Me and Willbachbakal has briefly discussed a more... drastic change.