I know this already, he won't change it after the work he put in.
As for players that do not like changes, there are a lot of UI types to improve spacing instead of trying to put it all in 1 place.
Add a few more buttons for different "pages" like; friendslist, chat room, lobby, specs.
Talking about changes that would make everything clear and less of a clusterf*ck like GunZ always has been lol.
Also if you would apply the method Hi-Rez does for example with Paladins you use lesser images for the UI, great for shit pcs to load the game better.
A few good games that have great UI in terms of spacing; Paragon, Paladins, Overwatch, Smite, Garry's Mod, Borderlands 2 and a few more.. (simple clean with plenty of 'pages to scroll through')
But we do not want to delay V8 more I guess so rip a pip (I am sure he did a fine job on the UI in terms of a new colour/texture and what not).