User blog comment:Rappy 4187/Technical Update: April 19, 2017/@comment-7114405-20170421144829/@comment-20644-20170421180649

When thinking about the design of the Wiki Activity module, we have to start with two basic questions: what is the module's ultimate purpose, and what audience does it most broadly serve? The answers to those questions are tied together: it's a way to show readers that there is a community of editors that make the wiki's content.

The icons were removed because while they are useful to editors, editors make up a tiny percentage of the people who actually see that module. The icons don't mean anything to a reader. Readers also don't need that information. Editors do, and editors can still easily access that information on Wiki Activity&mdash;which, when the new page header is live, will be easier than ever to reach&mdash;and Recent Changes.

Removing a set of icons don't mean anything to the vast majority of the people who use the site is a fair tradeoff for an easier experience and sleeker design.