After just playing an axe spec I can add some insight. Whirl's affects on stats seemed to be upped some. I believe it can now subtract -6dex/-6str, not too shabby. Pincer can go either way, I can't tell you how many times I would scream when it would miss for the finish. Though now if you don't lag them,your not lagged for the full 3 which makes it much nicer. Disembowel rules, it's so much better now and very useful against a/b/s users. Weaponbreak is good too. So I can't agree that mace is a lesser spec to axe, even if mace is slightly more reliable. I think mace should be left alone. If anything spec's like staff/spear and polearm should be brought up to snuff.

That which does not kill us,
makes us stronger.