That rate reflects the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, the 3.8% surtax and the effect of one of those backdoor tax increases that warps the calculation of taxable income.
Finally, the face warps and live styles option allow you to see the filters being applied to the viewfinder in pseudo real-time (pseudo on account of the abysmal refresh rate).
But as the software industry warps to fit the shape of the Internet and the region rises in economic prominence, it's likely many will be asking themselves a once-moot question: Does Microsoft need Asia more than Asia needs Microsoft?
The combination of weaker items and elemental damage, which makes the game harder, and more warps which make the game a bit easier, is a sensible and welcome one even if it does mean some of your favorite items are no longer quite as good.