I think it's bad news, too. In itself, and as a sign Shimano's interest in catering for UK-style coarse fishing is dwindling. The anti-reverse issue came up a while back, and some anglers like the new reels so much they are happy to work around it. These were my thoughts:
The lack of anti-reverse has been a Shimano deal-breaker for me, too. The smooth clutches are fine for playing bigger fish, but for a number of other things - letting out a bit of line when you find you've reeled in a turn or so too many to comfortably net a fish; giving yourself a bit more slack when you're pulling the feeder to the tub of groundbait; dropping the float down to adjust the depth without the whole rig falling in a heap; backing off a bit if you've set the tip under a bit too much tension etc etc - I want the option to backwind. Not to mention backwinding on a running fish or when fishing very light. Pulling line from the clutch, turning the spool or opening the bail arm- all needing two hands as opposed to one to flick a switch - just seem worse ways to do those little adjustments. I already have a lot of practice - I was stupid enough to mail-order a Shimano Aernos unseen, and it has an anti-reverse switch so small and badly designed it's impossible to use, making it the equivalent of the new Shimano's. I've given up on that reel, and I won't be buying the new models.