Yep, they're basically making Natascha a complete downgrade now, except for the variant that increases the spin-up time.
That's the only variant I really support.
Everyone hates natascha not just because it's overpowered in the hands of... well,
everybody, but because it has much less skill depth than the minigun (hence, why it's always been op/up in the hands of
everybody). By decreasing the heavy's health or damage output, you're not making it harder to use as effectively as the minigun, you're making it
impossible to use as effectively.
And it still has no skill depth.
The least that can be done is to give the natascha the old rev-up/down time. It doesn't do much, but it does force the natascha user to be a little more wary of when he engages and disengages for battle. Moreover, it gives ambushers like the pyro and scout more breathing room before the heavy tries to rip them new assholes, and it gives the heavy a reason to use the shotgun again.
What's important though is that the slowdown loses its affect over distance, and that's really all that was needed for the natascha to be pushed back into a balanced state.