Since Scourge is one of the Elite Specializations I played and enjoyed quite a bit without having access to Alacrity …

If this is your solution, I want my problem back!

I don’t have strong sentiments about any of the patch changes. I know where Anet is trying to get to with scourge, and I kinda like it. But I am probably part of a tiny minority, and if Anet sees a lot of people distraught that scourge is losing most of its special sauce, they might backtrack on it, as it is the intent on them publishing the changes way before they actually ship them.