Really, ATA? When I think it couldn't get worse, it does. When the players who usually defend are now complaining, that's how you see you're digging up your own grave.
Increased more than twice the usual amount of drops required, while the boxes are dropping less than half the usual amount. Really balanced, huh?
16 f-cking thousand drops to get what is always the simplest avatar of any hunt: the main storyline avatar. Yes, a whopping 10 THOUSAND more than what players have been used to achieving for years, ever since the phone stories were implemented. And as said above, ruining one of the only things that all players could get.
You underestimate how many of your players are here to collect avatars. I can guarantee a lot of people will be more than disappointed when they realize they can't collect the usual avatar from hunts anymore. A great amount of players care a lot about these and I would risk saying that the possibility of always getting new avatars are one of the main things keeping players on this game. Avatars are definitely one of your stronger game features. Do you really think putting them out of reach is a good strategy?
And you also definitely underestimate casual players. Not every player is a whale. Not everyone is spending $1000 a month here, but a whole lot of people can spare $10, $20 when they really want something. And yeah, you might think losing those players is no big deal, but any manager could show in numbers how wrong you are.
If there's an intelligent head in your company, you should have known that taking things away from your customers is definitely not a way to convince people to spend more. You know what encourages people to spend money? Offering better content. Offering reliable and helpful customer service. Making people trust your brand. But instead, all of these sudden bad changes are more likely to drive people away. People who were considering spending will see that it isn't worth it, unless you pour half your paycheck.
Congratulations. Keep going in this direction and watch this game become something completely different from a couple years ago. Disappoint and lose once loyal players because your greed couldn't be contained. Well done.