The PA logic
This is as I understand it and I don't claim to speak for anyone.
Imagine two characters, one with STR13 Dex18, so he just qualifies for PA and the other with STR 18. The STR18 guy uses a 2 handed weapon and the other guy is using a finesse weapon.
Assume everything else is comparable.
The STR13 guy gets a +1 damage bonus.
The STR18 guy gets a +6 damage bonus.
They both have the some attack bonus. So the STR13 guy actually benefits better from PA. His chance that a hit will turn into a miss is the same. He perk for hitting is the same. But his penalty if the hit becomes a miss is more than 5 points less (5 for STR bonus and the 2H weapon will have a higher base damage).
So PA actually rewards marginal STR guys. The change gets rid of the PA plus finesse thing (a change I like), unless you use a rapier (I can not think of any other off hand, perhaps I forget). And, the change makes the feat a true power smashing feat like it is supposed to be.
That said, I think they over did it. But I found it easier to swallow after I thought about it this way some.