Indeed, illuminators aren't the end all be all of LRFs anymore, and I enjoy the fact that you no longer have to try and outnumber them 3 to 1 with other lrfs to have a hope of winning.

Illum spammers need to use side-beams now, meaning any type of area of effect or mass healing ability greatly diminishes their usefulness.  Hoshikos and the repair cloud are now awesome anti-illum tools, as they always were but even more so now that they can seriously overcome illum damage.

The one thing I'm worried about is that even though illums are reduced in dominance, LRF spam in general is still alive and kicking.

LRF spam is still the dominant strategy. Advent Illum spam is obvious even with the nerf, and Vasari have literally no options other than the Assailant for a good part of the game. I've noticed TEC players tend to not have as much LRF spam- sometimes you'll see nothing but an Akkan and 40 Javelis, but it seems that LRF/Flak/LF combinations are working extremely well.

I've barely seen a difference with Illums. Sure, they're a bit weaker, but Advent players can still mass them with Seekers and deal enormous damage to a fleet.

I'm constantly balancing my fleet to deal with my opponents balance. I believe thats what everyone wanted. I am seeing more heavy entrenched battles rather than numerous LRF overruns you would usually see. LF's and flak seem stronger.

I don't see how that's more obnoxious than any other kind of spam.  Carrier spam did its silly hit and runs (knock out few units then jump out) so that's understandable, but scout spam is no different from LRF spam in that respect.  LRF spam can knock out light frigates like crazy.  Sure, you can bring out scout spam to counter it, but they'll just mix in other units and bring back the LRF later. 

I just don't see where you're coming from.  Carrier-spam could do annoying little tricks, but LRF spam is no better than scout spam in any way.  Seekers I'll agree were a problem, but the TEC and Vasari scouts never were.

The problem with scouts was that, with dedicated scout spammers, it killed any ability to tech up.  If you never saw a game where it was basically impossible to tech up because of scout spam, you didn't play enough games.

They're called fighters.  Unless the enemy is protecting those scouts with flaks and other unit types and such (in which case, it's NOT scout spam) you can use strike craft to knock them out.  

With carriers, they warp in, kill some units with strike craft, kite a bit, then warp out before you kill anything.  Still possible even in the current version, though mercifully much easier to counter.

At close proximity, maybe, but teching at close proximity is difficult regardless of what your opponent is doing.  I often found myself able to scrape together 5 labs for heavies against scout spammers.  Scout spam is also a great way to cover for teching, enabling you to hold together with low-level units while you bring out stronger ones.

Finally got to try the new patch and get a few games in.  It seems like uber lrm spam is alive and well.

Interestingly, I didn't see any Advent players (I wonder why? LOL), and that's ALL I saw last patch.

Oh well, I guess we just have to accept and live with lrm spam.

hordes of ilums never scares me but i do really scared on carrier+HC spams its nearly uncounterable

Carrier/HC is easy to counter if you have a good-sized fleet and support cruisers.  Advent battleball with repulse and TK push.  Hoshiko/Cobalt/Flak works wonders too.  Vasari has it easiest, though; Jam Weapons and Subverters shuts down your entire fleet while minelayers plant explosives around it.

Honestly, I'm starting to find it overpowered, particularly if you can bring out a Kostura (which isn't that hard in 4v4 or larger)

Okay...here's something that just hit me...

How about a defense against abilities?  Like, a ship power that dispels ship powers on a single vessel, enemy or friendly?

Just a thought...

-Exile Dark