I wouldn't call a 5% health decrease a nerf (at least not an effective one), since with healing spell there'll be no difference. You should have notice the problem when the vast majority of farmers in high cup range use at least 15 hogs in their army. It's efficient, and cheap. The troop is just too good it breaks the game's balance.
I've already said in my comment both pros and cons of the new inferno tower, and frankly, I hate it. But it does it job well, which is to stop hog attacks.

