What is up with ATO procs

I have having difficulty wrapping my head around how ATO procs work. So somehow we're supposed to find the power with the base recharge + activation time closest to the proc per minute value and then max the recharge of that power so that it goes off more.
Yet after all that calculus somehow, "you can really slot these in any power you use and you will see them be effective."
I am trying wrap my head around this being a good idea. On one hand I don't want to gimp my characters by just tossing it in an attack I like but on the other I just don't get the calculus.
How is something like this condusive to a fun game?

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The author of this post is speaking in generalities from his personal experience.
Your experience may vary.

The 'idea' of the new procs per minute (PPM) code for ATOs and SBEs is to overcome a deficit of the old proc percentage per activation (which I'm going to coin as PPPA). The PPPAs were better used in fast recharging powers and AoE and 'rain patches' (i.e., continuously activating AoE powers) that would proc more often than in a single long charging click power.

So, the PPMs were designed to proc more often in long charging powers (sometimes assuring they would always go off if the recharge was long enough) and less often in fast recharging and AoE and rain powers.

Problems are:

1. The new formula is baked into the code. So, no one knows for sure the actual formula... not even the Powers Team. Just an idea of what it's "supposed to be";

2. it can't be tweaked without the help of programmers (thus making changes weeks-long affairs);

3. actual testing consistently comes up with areas where they're not working as they're "supposed to"

4. PPMs risk being too overpowered a buff for single long-recharging powers and too much of a nerf for AoE and rain powers

5. on a Ustream, Zwillinger let loose a cryptic hint that the whole PPM mechanic was getting a major overhaul

So.... If you're chasing PPMs because of a perceived notion that they're somehow 'better' or 'uber' as compared to the old PPPAs... you may be severely disappointed later.

Consider PPMs as still in the beta/testing phase and wait to see how it all shakes out.

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@Roderick

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The author of this post is speaking in generalities from his personal experience.
Your experience may vary.

This a concept that I guess that I am just too dense to understand as I read the forums:

I have 20ish(?) perfectly good superpowers.

I have 40ish(?) enhancement slots to add to those powers.

an ATO proc (which takes up one of those enhancement slots so I have to chose to reduce the enhancement of said power in some way) adds a (presumably) useful benefit of some sort

How is it that I am "gimped" if I chose to use that proc?

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@Inquisitor