It is sad to see my chars gone but they are in a happy place now

I would like to get clarification with the "new" Aetheria as to whether the changes are on top of the previous restrictions and modifications or in place of them. For example - do spells remain modified? i.e. haste does not give you +4 AC, true seeing is not "true" seeing and so on.
In terms of the factions and the changes to AO primarily do they rediscover Paladins or are they still not allowed?
Are the changes put in place by Linuxpup still in effect? ie. DD 30 level benefits, Harper Scout changes, RDD at 30 and things of that nature or has the 1.69 patch made these redundant?
I think I know the answer to these queries however there was not the "everything is still the same" line in the post for those nitpickers like me
