This whole kerfuffle is all part and parcel to a larger issue:
P2P classes are all currently gimp. (With the exception of Warlock).
And I wouldn't hold my breath that Warlock doesn't get gimped too, when they figure it's not a "Hot Seller" anymore.
Rune Arms could be OP as fuck and Artificer would still suck past Lvl 20.
I have yet to run an Arty past the King's Forest or longer than it took to complete the ED I was after (usually Shiradi).
This also lends itself to another issue: The EDs themselves need a pass, since most of the P2P classes are "out in the cold" for a decent ED to run in.
Arty is the prime example here. But FvS and Monk aren't faring much better, since DC is all Light + Fire and Exalted is Light + Heals when FvS needs Light + Force.
Likewise, most Monks are running in Unyielding or Legendary, if they run in epics at all because the DCs in Grandmaster are never good enough to bother using. And survivability sucks.
Arty has to swallow a load on either Shiradi or Shadowdancer, neither of which are all that well suited, since Arty is "neither fish nor fowl" when attempting to place it in an ED.
Issues upon issues.
Edited: I can't belive I fogot Druid. But since Wolf-builds still happen, I guess they won't be a priority for a fix anytime soon.