The new system was a nice idea that somehow went backwards.

If later fish gave more raw for higher stam fights rather than having levels (however amusing giant fish on stands are), and stamina started out at skill 0 where it was in the old system rather than very nerfed, then maybe it would work. That would be a breaking change though and some people are pretty determined to keep their very first ever world - so I can't see the devs doing more than tweaks now.