So, we seem to have established there was a cut in named spawn rates, gem drop rates, drop tables, plat drops, spawn rates of cash critters, cutting in gem prices at NPCs, questions over some NPC pricing of items (example 10p items and 1g items from same mobs), and maybe more.
If each nerf reduced available plat by 1/2 (pulling numbers out of my ass as an example is all, these are NOT the real changes)...then we have had a reduction from X available plat to X/64 (1/2 for spawn rates, 1/2 for gem drop rates, 1/2 for lowering drop tables, 1/2 for plat drops, 1/2 for spawn rates, 1/2 for cut in gem prices... 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 X 1/2 = 1/64th of the previous available loot. The effect of so many changes all at once was exponential.
The example above is to illustrate the effect of lessening more than one factor at a time. With so many variables changed at the same time, I think that the tightening of the plat was more effective than was intended is all. AGAIN I DO NOT CLAIM THAT THE EXAMPLE IS THE REALITY. I do not know the actual effect that was had, but I do know that merely looking at the overall quantity of plat in the game is not an effective measure of the economy.