First, I think this mirrors how I feel about the changes to draft scouting. We used to be able to take one from column a, one from column b, two from c. You could get fill holes with FA, replenish with the draft, AND maybe score a decent IFA. Now, to get return on investment for your budget choices, you have to evaluate your team's direction more critically, and commit your budget dollars more fully. You can't have a little bit of everything anymore. And that redistributes the talent pool, because anyone who's making a killing in one area is missing out in another.
Second, as for the guy who keeps winning IFA in Riley every season, just go look at his entire trade history to see how he replenishes his farm system.