The primary issue is that the JOAT nerf was done with an eye toward PvP balance, but instead had the primary effect of eliminating the viability of non-Bushido-based weapon-user templates, and the human race's use in general, in PvM.
The simple fact is that the basic Samurai template is guaranteed to have 300 when complete, even if it's at something as extreme as weapon 120, parry 120 and bushido 60, or something more normal as 120/100/80. Ninja templates, more rare, also have that benefit (weapon/Ninjitsu/stealth).
So, nearly all PvM weapon users I've seen are now
Elven Sampires (melee or archers)
Elven Whammies (archers, mostly)
Gargoyle Thrower Whammies
And a few people that experiment adding Mysticism to the ranged templates above.
And even the Throwers have benefit of parry (though reduced), with the way that skill works.
Steering people into a few templates, and practically eliminating a race from play (the net effect of this, as the JOAT bonus was the only thing that allowed humans to compete) is an overall negative for the game.
Something should be done to undo this unintended consequence, while not undoing the real intent of the nerf. Simply adding Chivalry to the list of skills (as it has very few PvP uses - even less when you take into account the suits engineered with imbuing to not be vulnerable to Consecrate weapon), would go a long way for this. Another would be to come up with another property for the human race, to offset how most JOAT effects have been nerfed.