Well, you're probably right, as I said, it's my soft spot.
I haven't tried all new things either (only Dinamo).
Dynamo is 2 power per turn on alarm level 2 and up, which is kinda worse than power drip if you spend more time in lower levels than higher (and you usually do want that) but it comes with the benefit that it gives you a lot of power per turn at times when you need it the most, I guess. I am not impressed.
Merc is 0 power, break 2 firewalls, 0 cooldown. Sounds great, huh? But it costs +2 power per use, and it resets to zero at new alarm levels. I could see myself picking it up at B@z@@r, I don't know how you use this as a starting program other than super-agressive build that rushes through alarm levels.
Archive Sharp gives +1 armor piercing at 3rd and 6th augment. Which is pretty much better than old version, so he has -1AP as well. As you often struggle with Armored opponents this is pretty good, and paralizers are cheaper than ventricular lances.
Archive Prism.. jeez, is like Decker on drugs. You get this disguise thing, it uses 2 pwr to activate and drains 2 per turn. But you look like guard until you attack, run or somebody sees you from 1 tile away. Seems pretty powerful. I can see somebody finishing levels with that thing alone, and you only need like Drip + Personal Server or even just a Fusion to support it. Prism starts with Anarchy which makes it that much more useful.
As for B@z@@rs, it got Root (+6 pwr, than -1 pwr for 6 turns), Things like passively all programs -1cooldown +2power and vice versa, Lightning Strike (Massive cost but KOs a tracked Guard) and some other fun stuff.