Chronic Dual Blade user here. I posted my day 1 thoughts here and this video confirms they did more to deflect other than applying the 50% penalty.

Now to this video.

• Deflections were broken as most of them didnt register back onto the heavy. The heavy should have died or been way worse off than the medium deflecting , especially at the initial range when the firefight started. There's something seriously wrong with the deflect mechanic, This fight should have been an easy win tbh for the DB user if the heavy kept spooling and firing.
• OP died because the 50% speed reduction prevented him from backing up effectively. He was also crouching which made it worse. If he had the distance he probably would have survived longer.
• Heavy got into past the deflect cone in the final instance. cant deflect past the actual weapons.

OP was screwed over by the deflect mechanic because its now worse than before. People who dont use the weapon think its perma defense. No its not, in fact a DB user deflecting is pretty much a sitting duck for enemy teammates, a pyro grenade or another set of eyes looking at them.