This should clear a few things:
1. The changes did not happen on the last update (even this thread predates the changelog), and not even on the previous one, but on 29.05,
- Began reworking of npc levelling, zones difficulty and exp formula. Changes will be gradually introduced in subsequent updates.
No change has been applied since then.
2. Right now, the NPC levelling based on zone difficulty is implemented, but the encounters (and said difficulty ratings) are carried over from the old files and do not match the intended final version. They were left alone for the time being though, as they provide useful data (every encounter and even every attack and its result is being logged) and the difficulties vary enough so that there are zones where levelling does not affect critters at all (in fact, in some zones they are slightly weaker than before).
This was already noted before:
I've skipped most of the flame here, so this may have been said before, but this is probably due to getting them in a hard region. The difficulties of regions are currently leftover from a time when these played no role in NPC strength, so NPC dificulty can be quite random around the map for the time being.
3. Worldmap encounters data is undergoing a complete rework since more than a week ago. First draft that will go public is expected to be completed quite soon and will be reason enough to update the server.
4. NPCs critical chances did not change, but with higer skills they will tend to do more aimed shots. An Intelligence check is also made to determine how often they will try it.
5. Point 3 is fundamental for this discussion.
Technically, the topic could be closed right now, however it might be good to keep it open for feedback after the reworked worldmap is put on the public server.