You allude to some mythical time where hybrids were awesome. Apparently superior to the way hybrids were before the current expansion.

I don't remember it the way you do.
In late 2008 I was soloing 0.0 with Drakes and Brutix's. I also had fun engagements with my close friend Josh, @ the time. We often only used Gallente cruisers, frigates and battle-cruisers.

I had the same difficulty I have today. I did then, before the nano-changes. Honestly, even more so. However, in our dual Thorax's. Josh and myself often caught vagabonds and curses by surprise. Using overheated modules under specific circumstances. (I'm really focusing on cruiser and battle-cruiser class ships here.) Frigates were alot easier to destroy with 90% stasis webifier's, but for engaging cruisers and above. Many ships could use mobile tactics that left Gallente and Minmatar battle-cruisers wanting (Drake, Harbinger).

Frigate engagements were alot more static than it is now (Honestly alot like how battleship engagements are today, but still ended quickly). Gallente frigates range limitations was not a serious issue then. So 90% stasis webifier was greatly effective here.

With battleships. No one has ever argued that 90% stasis webifier was not beneficial to battleships. Battleships had almost no issues dealing with ships of lower classes. Even frigates. However, the Tempest was still able to use it's mobility to effectively stay out of a Megathrons range (stasis webifier range = 13,000meters). The Megathron was loved because so many pilots used them to engage ships of lower classes.

It's alot easier for Gallente ships to catch mobile ships now than they ever did in the past period. Once I catch a vagabond now. I'm overheated (Thorax), often catching a mobile ship off guard. Stasis webifier has the same increase in range with heat it did in the past. Once applied the Vagabond has a velocity decrease. @ 10,000 meters I apply a warp scrambler. The Vagabonds micro-warp-drive is deactivated (caught). His propulsion module cannot be turned on (as long as my warp scrambler is active). Most Vagabonds do not use warp scramblers. So, I have mobility advantage (Thorax). (Damage output and defence)

This is the same tactics you had to do in the past. Although, one module had a more significant ability to limit another vessels mobility. Instead of 2 modules for the same purpose (warp scrambler and 60% stasis webifier).

So this mythical fantasy time were Gallente was popular because apparently they worked (I often pointed Gallente ships were popular for no reason @ the time). Did not exist. In fact. That was the time I switched to MInmatar because I believed Minmatar ships had more options to deal with the environment @ the time and coming changes. Even though. I had no answer for the Myrmidon, Brutix, Vexor, Taranis, and Ishkur @ the time.

All battleships were superior with 90% stasis webifiers. Amarr battleships were still superior to all other battleships @ the time as they are now. Maestroms and Rokhs were still tanking like a boss and killing sh!t even without a stasis webifier. The whole back in the Gallente hayday argument is deluded and fanciful. Good luck with it though. Also, dual propulsion cruisers have been a way to counter the current warp scrambler and stasis webifer mechanics. Not to mention, not even a Hurricane using dual tracking enhancers can track a cruiser orbiting close range with a afterburner. That is not going to be limited to Gallente ships only (also welcome to a year ago when I mentioned this on the forums).

Also, the problem is the weapon system (blaster). By virtue of blaster range. it limits certain hybrid ships to a sub-optimal concept. And make no mistake. Close range weapons are sub-optimal. All of them. No matter if it's auto-cannons without the benefits of tracking enhancers or ship bonuses to range or Heavy assault missiles and blasters.