This is a step back from Apple and not at all helpful for the end users, maybe helpful for developers and their servers.
It will be a nightmare if one has to reset their device and restore from backup, if it is just a couple of lightweight apps then it will not be a problem to download them again, but if it is a app which is in couple of hundred MB or even a GB then downloading it all over again will be counterproductive for the end user.
I read somewhere it is because it will be helpful for users of 16 GB users to be able to install iOS update which is silly; Apple should then just stop selling 16GB and lesser capacity devices.
I have a 128GB iPad Air2 with couple of hundred application which I use on an off, just before and after the iOS release the app updates took up around 5-6 GB, none of which I can transfer to my Mac as a backup. Now with a lot of apps crashing if I want to reset and restore I will have to re download the entire app updates which will be a big hit on my limited broadband download capacity.
I have two iPads, two iPhones with lots of apps installed on them and duplicated on them. Now in the new scenarios that Apple is forcing upon its users if a common app of say of 500 MB is installed on them I will have to download them on all devices which will amount to almost 2GB in case of a big game then it might go up to 4-5 Gb and a couple of games and apps like that then your whole download limit will be exhausted. In the older scenario one can download the update in one of the device and then install it on other devices after backing up the installer to a PC via iTunes, which is logical and simple.
I hope apple restores back the older functionality and not be adamant like they usually are, not everyone has an high speed unlimited download broadband connection, After shelling out for the Apple devices if we have to incur extra expenses on using the devices then it is not helpful for the monthly budget at all. Please apple be reasonable and restore the functionality.