shanker
OG
That may be true, but damage was seriously increased in Cata when int = SP and AP scaling from STR/AGI was increased. You can get similar gear to BoAs (offensive stat wise), other than the weapons. But really, ~50 SP isn't going to make AB hit much softer. Maybe 500 vs 600 damage.
last year around this time AB was buffed in a patch (4.1?) to add some viability to 85 arcane spec. it was a blanket buff, unlike other buffs that usually state in patch notes 80+.
that was when arcane mages became viable in pretty much all BG brackets of PVP and of course 19. wasn't BOAs that made arcane spec viable, because prior to that patch mages where mostly frost spec and overall rare in 19 bracket pugs, usually used in mini-mades/premades.
arcane became rather strong and even pug viable