The biggest bonus to empowerment now is the 30% hp on healing. 60 hp instead of 40 on mend wounds, 100 instead of 70 on heal, and 200 instead of 140 on rejuvenate is HUGE!

You still get your dam redux without empowerment, but it really makes a huge difference in Mana efficiency. This is all the more true with low int/Wis races with tiny Mana pools.

I truly believe this is the real mechanical value in empowerment in the post empowerment required CF.