Yes, in lower leagues that might be correct.

In higher leagues I can talk for myself: as I am using a pure gold foil account I cannot max all cards because that is simply too expensive (maybe for non GF accounts that's somewhat easier). However, I can use some near max level cards quite effective (also some cards like the chicken or the albatross don't even require high levels at all to be very helpful) and normally always reach Champion II. In that case (at least if played manually) I call that skills.

I wouldn't consider that change to be "terrible" but I am not convinced it to have an overall positive effect (I might think about it again, though).