Hit rating will still be in the game - if you look at screenshots of Rogue talent trees there's 5% of hit in one of Masteries.
I don't think Reforging will convert one stat in another fully or with some diminishing rate. It will be something like "convert up to 50% of spirit into critical strike rating". Otherwise devs won't need to homogenise specs to benefit from same stats equally at all (and I like it that way).

What I think they want to do with dps mana is Arcane-like changes. If you look at all mana users talent trees and spells you'll see that there's some mana replenishment/return mechanics (with exception of Ele Shammies). With no regeneration from spirit mana will be restored by Evocation-like spells and redesigned Spirit Tap talent. And I hope dev will put Life Tap on cooldown: this OP spell adds very much to my hatred towards Warlocks :)
In that case the very same Warlocks may see drastic change of gameplay - Affliction will NEED Improved Felhunter and Dark Pact to get mana from their puppy. I wonder what talent Frost tree may get :)

What I don't like is Spell Power change. Now all the items of equal level have equal Spell Power. All other stats are distributed due to item budget. Compare this for example http://www.wowhead.com/?items=4.-2&filter=qu=4;minle=200;maxle=200;cr=123:103:79;crs=1:1:3;crv=0:0:0. Look at Signet of Hopeful Light and compare it to Band of Guile, for example. You can choose what you want - more Intellect or more Spell Haste. If Spell Power will depend on Intellect, and the philosophy of item stats distribution will be the same, what we will see is the same int on all gear of the same level. If philosophy will change everyone will want items with maximum int, since dps scales best with Spell Power (if you're hit capped of course).

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