Not all players use the forums, so the chance of all the people who hate this update posting about it is extrememly low.
For updates that are as mental as this, have a petition pop up when u log on after an update, each time u log on until u fill it out, or check a box for it to stop popping up. A 1 click response system of sorts.
Have a list of changes youve made, compared to the original settings, and have an option to tick. Do you agree/like or disagree/dislike.
I can guarantee if you put this in place with the current update you will recieve 80% or more negative feedback on alchemy cost increase and removal of selling 4* and 5* premades.
But then again, with that % disagreeing youd actually have to change it, so i guess its in 3rings best interests not to make it easier for the general population to respond. You might have to do something for the players and not your bank balance.
Alchemy cost increasing, of course people dislike it. Including me: I would rather they have removed energy cost from crafting and just increased crown cost.
But as for selling 4-5 star gear, don't assume too much. I'm glad they did this, and have been expecting them to much sooner. You really think in a game that relies entirely and completely on gear, someone should be able to just buy the strongest stuff in the game from someone else? What is this the 90s? Am I playing Diablo?
Of course, someone can still just buy the pre-made 3-stars, recipes for 4 and 5 stars, and all the mats to transmute them themselves. But that would at least require a certain working knowledge of the game, and they'd have to at least go down into the clockworks to upgrade their gear.