I think CX is making cuts on unnecessary cabin announcement intrusions. They have cut away the exercise video that they used to waste our times with. Also I noticed they stop the standard announcements in Mandarin in my last two long-haul flights (however, during flight when they ask people to sit down and buckle up, some Mandarin still happens, LOL). So maybe this cutting short of welcoming OW people is just part of the paradigm. Seriously, in the past I feel like the first 45 minutes of the flight it's non-stop talking and talking and talking, and I for one am glad they made a conscious effort to leave us alone with needless babble.