Honestly, this feels like such a nitpick when I think about it.
When I was playing my Firebrand a year or so ago, I actually used primarily mantras on my hotbar (I don't care about the so-called 'Meta'. I use skills that I like). I liked my character reciting a chant. I LIKED how I had to charge it up and prepare it ahead of time. I liked the ammunition method of how the final charge was a powered up version.
But now? Now, mantras feel... unimpactful. They feel so incredibly bland and boring to me now. And half the time I can't even tell if I've used them. Far less animation, nowhere near as pretty.. character's not reciting voice lines. Like.. what? Did they just abruptly trash several skill icons, animations and voice lines in favor of something far more boring? Where did those go? I'm sad.