The 2.01 blink was just faster. It's really hard to take out a jetpacker now, because he can just jump away faster than you can blink. I went around and around in cargo on hera last night with a jetpacker. Got a few good swipes in, and he nicked me a few times with his HMG, but even after dogfighting for two or three minutes, I never did manage to take him down, and he retreated through the door back to MS.
However, the blink speed was lowered to allow newer players easier control over the fade. I don't know why. Fade is simply not a newbie class to play. You just have to know the exact moment to blink out and be able to aim it so you don't get trapped on a pipe on the way. (like I do all the time>_<) But, the point is that something flayra changed to help out players new to the game doesn't seem likely to get changed back again.
And yes, in the long term I'd much rather see a fade that actually FADES. Give him health and armor close to that of a skulk, but change blink to make him totally disappear (not just X% like cloaking), and make it so that bullets travel right through him, and he can walk through placeable entities. That would be a fade that could waltz right in to a turret farmed room, blink in, swipe a marine down, and blink out before the marines have even swung their LMGs in his direction. And it would seriously add to the cool factor of the game. The low health/armor would keep it from being overpowered, as you'd only need a single clip to take him out. But that's not likely to go in any time soon, and has very little to do with balance suggestions. But it's cool, so nyah!
