New skill tree in SWTOR

A game my wife and I play from time to time is  Star Wars The Old Republic (SWTOR) they recently created a new expansion and with it they implemented a new skill tree design. Where before you had 30 or so skill points to spend on one of three branches , now the skills are locked into place and you unlock them as you progress. You do get to choose 7 utility skills along the way now. While I can appreciate a simplified skill tree I wonder if this change was to make the game more appealing to casual gamers. On the other hand good players all use the same skills with the same skill rotation, so perhaps this will even the playing field between hardcore gamers and regular players who don't fully understand the original skill tree.