Nah that was a fairly recent change :P

Liches have lost the ability to group, that is a somewhat recent change. I remember grouping with a lich at more than one point in my mudding career. Phylactery system also got an overhaul, they work differently than they did in the Istendil/Zorszaul days. Certain pieces of eq that liches favored back in the day no longer work for them. (Though they still get that spell to work via phylactery)

Not being able to group and change to phylactery system did a LOT to balance out liches. Not to say they still aren't crazy powerful, just that there is somewhat smaller chance of an istendil/zorszaul springing up again. And that boys and girls is a good thing! I remember deh pain!