Have things changed that much?

In the last 3 days I have been in teams that 3 manned SM Lab and Armory and a 4 player team that did ZF. Now this isn't with one of them a level 70, these are done with players in the right level range for the instance.

The ZF team I just finished the instance with had a 46 paly for a tank, 44 warlock, 51 hunter and my 44 Draenei priest. Having the pets helped but we did the temple fight (I died and the paly rezed me near the end) and we did all the bosses except the one we needed the mallet for.

Did the 41 point talent tree make that much of a difference? I remember it being much harder when I did those instances with my mage and paly, I know the player base isn't any better.

Only other thing is the advantages a Draenei priest gets, with Symbol of Hope (Mana regen boost for the whole team every 5 minutes) and Gift of the Naruu. And of course I used 9 mana pots, 50 water and 10 Heavy Mageweave bandages (When I ran out of mana I used bandages on the team, and pets until I got enough mana back to heal).

Or the last possibility that most healers really suck and I am just better then the ones I have teamed with.

Yes

Yup.

Too much.

Helps if everyone knows what their doing.

The big thing is some classes got previous talents as trainable spells. It used to be a big deal when you got evocate for long fights, now it's trainable at 20 and you get a new better 21/31/41 pt talent instead.

The other big thing is the talents now mostly stack well. It used to be you got little bits and pieces here and there but didn't really get a full build till 60 that made a big difference. Now you can keep adding on things progressively and they all help.

I suppose its possible. When I used to run ZF as a druid main healer I often ended up tanking, because 80% of the warriors would think they were rogues in armor.

Oh, there are plenty of idiots out there. Last night in RFD, I had a mage 6+ my level tell me "mage you should use more instacasts to boost your dps". I'm frost for leveling and just keep casting my frost bolts, aoe on aoe pulls. This guy could barely keep up on dps (as fire no less) and ended up going oom 15 seconds into the escort quest.

I didn't think they made the instances easier since I was doing them last, and there are still a decent number of idiots that have no idea how to play. That is why I figured the talents really made a big difference.

I know the gear isn't any better and most people are not into tossing piles of enchants on gear below 50 because you are replacing the gear so fast.

The stairs event has been toned down from the original.

a lot

pre 40 is still the same idiot fest though

i can't remember the last time one of my alt's has been able to find a group to get through WC entirely

The other big thing is the talents now mostly stack well.
Agreed. The ongoing "polishing" of the talent trees has produced some actual, real improvements. Yes, the nerf bat has been swung in places I don't personally believe it should have (Remember when Heroic Strike was, well, "heroic"?), but overall I believe the talent tree changes have produced some very nice synergies.

The stairs event has been toned down from the original.
WAAAAAY DOWN. Used to be damn near impossible without a 60 there, preferably melee, to take the agro. Now it's a nice little walk up seom steps.

pre 40 is still the same idiot fest though
Unfortunately, this is something that Blizzard cannot patch out ...

:D