As for me, I think the JGs to Gallia (and general Gallia improvements) sound good, the locations of the systems are more sensible (as in, what nebulae they're in, how they are related to nearby systems, etc.) and I look forward to the incorporation of Oita and Poole.
Sigma-13 was the historical battleground of Kusari and Rheinland (thus all the wreckage), and Sigmas 17 and 19 were where the Outcast and Corsair ZOIs butted together. I guess moving their conflict into S-13 could be a logical progression (if they found the area profitable). I suppose that's why the JHs have been removed to give Outcasts and Corsairs a better pirating corridor.
I hope Drake is more useful than 117.
With a lot of the convenient JH routes removed from the Edge Worlds the Zoners should dominate all trade out there-- hopefully the routes are good for them in the update.
Nagano should play a very different role, being where it is now. Will Samura platinum be going through the Taus to Gallia? the route to NB will be longer in the update.
Provence is a little more cut off (no Dauphine JH), but I guess it was underused anyway (NOX).
Newcastle seems to grow in importance, as Leeds is lost-- remains to be seen if activity will increase. Maybe if it weren't so huge?
In the end, all that matters is if the changes lead to interaction/RP, so I'll believe it when I see it. I think the devs have some good guiding principles and the changes should mostly help.
EDIT: I hope they turn down the music in Burgundy, or get rid of it. That's one reason I try to avoid that system.
