I don't really mind atm about the change, but it will have knock-on effects to the way classes are balanced
With the amount of ranged on the server (and especially xbows still the worst implemented weapon in the game), its another reason to play with a shield as primary class, especially with cav changes meaning anti-cav might not be as important (although I like the cav tweak).
I don't think regular shielders should be nerfed necessarily, but the need to play with shield as primary class should be reduced. It if wasn't such a ranged fest, and xbows weren't so easy to put into a build and use effectively it wouldn't be so bad.
Kicking change is another reason not to use 2 direction poles too, but thats a side thing and can be fixed with some reduced glance rates or something