No, you're right, it is stupid to be penalized for it. What I'm trying to explain is that you can do something about it, even if you don't have the original mods.

I think the issue there is that people don't want the intended stats (because that implies that the initial stats were not intended), people want the changed stats. We aren't entitled to an upgrade if we no longer have the original item. It's like warranties, if you modify an item there is no recourse to ask for a replacement. I do wonder what good putting in a ticket would do, however. I'd have to imagine that it is like replacing an item, for which you get three per six months, but it takes forever to go through. Also, if you want the stats, do some raiding and get a new piece. You could very easily replace that slot in the few weeks before the patch comes out (RNG aside). We all know gear is stupid easy to get in this game.

Really guys, who cares if you changed out your mods and don't get "free upgrades." You'll be upgrading this gear in weeks, if not days. Plus, at this point story mode drops Rakata, so you could always run that to replace the gear. Doing HM and dailies will help you upgrade the rest. I know it's not min-maxy, and it sucks that we're being "punished" for trying to optimize our stats, but you don't have to live with it forever. You also have a few more weeks of raiding to replace whatever gear you modded, so really, it's no biggy.

8 Man Nightmare most definitely drops the same loot as 8HM. We were getting Exotech gear and Rakata tier pieces from 8HM, and the same from Nightmare. Even the schematics were Columi.

Ah, I used to rage like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.