I think I am going to take a different angle to this one, should anyone care about the opinion of a lurking old vet. First believe me when I say I absolutely mean no disrespect here Pippy, but perhaps it is your attention span. I am sure I like many others could regale you with stories of other long lost games in which downtime was measured in minutes not seconds. And yet more than 15-20 seconds is too long?
Many others have offered lots of ways to mitigate the issue. Some builds are luckier than others when it comes to the blue bar, at varying levels. And while yes newer players don't have that knowledge right out of the gate, isn't learning that part of the point. Not just from both good and bad experiences but also the coming here to get advice, asking their friends in game, or even just the random people they happened to team with. Isn't that also a part of the game?
I know others have voiced the same, that part of this is helpful to teach those who are new. And I agree, but I will concede that I am not looking at this from a pure mechanical standpoint. Part of the issue and part of the game in my thoughts is the psychological effects. I don't imagine there are many players that would not look at a group of Malta, or even Skulls, in a different light if they knew they could just hit the rest button after every single fight.
So I feel its more of a question not of management really but this: What does the change in downtime really mean? Would less downtime really make the game that much better for everyone? Overall I think the devs have said yes at least to the second part, but I think that they do have to draw a line somewhere. With debt being downgraded to the level of a buzzing fly, there really isn't much left other than downtime.
Side note: I have to agree with the brawl thing though. I always thought it silly that its equally draining to light some poor fool aflame from 40 yards away as it is to punch them in the jaw.
