If the goal is bringing back players, it's definitely not the approach I would have taken. If the goal is to just continue milking the existing user base, then it will have no effect.
Bringing folks back is them making weapons suck less again. I am definitely going to log back in on the 17th to try all the weapon buffs, see if any of the ones I had high hopes for are fun now that they can actually kill things. If it's fun again I'll grind out some super credits and get the warbond just like always. If it's not fun enough I'll go back to other games. Same as always.
it's unfortunate that they are going down this route. stratagems are one of the main appeals of the game, missing out on primary, secondary, and throwable weapons due to not having a warbond isn't nearly as disappointing IMO.
something i'd like to emphasise for people who think this is no big deal, because you can earn credits by playing:
not everyone has the game amount of time to play as you might. those players don't have a choice of grind for it or pay for it, for them it's pay for it or lack the stratagem.