I'm probably the only player on EU siege who still use awlpike, and I'm not even that good with it. Knitler doesn't play cRPG anymore, Heibai use other polearms, Switch is playing on alt, Teeth is not playing cRPG. On siege there are mainly swinging weapons, 2H and poleaxes, shielders and ranged, of course. Dunno how it is on NA, but I bet there aren't many 2D polearms users there as well. Only good thing about awlpike is stealing kills, while players are busy fighting someone else. I can't duel with it (tried). Reason why I use it is because I'm tired of Druzhina and Grey Order behemoths with 90 HP and 75 body armor rating.
This patch brought a lot of ranged players online, which will soon be countered by more shielders. I don't understand why are you try to nerf 2D polearms, when they aren't good against any of those dominant classes.
Dunno about battle, but from what I've heard it's full of ranged and mounted ranged.
To be perfectly honest with you, Tydeus, while I have crappy internet connection myself I'm not for giving advantages to high ping players. We have way too many high level players with 80+ ping who learned to play after 3 years, they don't really need more help.