I think you are assuming a little much.

1. Not all players bitched against the grind of exp/ob/com.

2. This also does nothing about eliminating the grind, only makes the grind that exists more tedious as it is worth less. If anything I would argue this makes the grind even worse - more time for less benefit.

3. Exploration is always been apart of CF as well. For many reasons, gear, preps, quests, etc. Some of us play for that. I love RP and enjoy PK but to be honest, most of my time when I login I end up playing solo for many reasons. Now that time exploring is worth less then before in respect to edges - why would I not be frustrated with this change?

I don't care about the role change so much, I think this is fine at the end of the day and agree that this seems what at least a portion of the player base has been asking for. I can see the frustration though in respect to areas, quests, etc that have IMM exp requirements. This is just making it harder to play this game - is that good?

I'm happy the IMMs what to be more involved (that is an assumption though I didn't see any posts indicating this was true). Just that's easier to say than do. And I would guess, regardless of the intent, this will result in winners and losers for IMM rewards just like it always has because it is at the end very subjective and requires players and IMM times overlap.

At the end of the day these changes reduce the single fairest way to earn edges that existed. Now players who excel in PK or getting noticed by IMMs have an even greater edge over players that tend to fly under the radar or are not PK orientated. To me this is just a shame.

Edit to add:

If there are plans to create new ways to earn edge points, and/or be more liberal with IMM exp awards, that should stated and perhaps be rolled out at the same time or before hand. Not doing so leaves the player base with just having something that has been apart of this game for a long time now become more difficult and of course, why would any player be happy about this?