it did change everything...and since they have 2 seasons left or so...your not gonna get much more major changes...things gotta be explained sometime, were probably at the climax of the lost story now.

but the survivors actually winning for a chance is a major change, as well as whether their goal to be rescued is as important and good as they think it is. you noticed there was no more negotiating as usual, which often resulted in some sort of draw back for the survivors, and hampering how much we find out. the story is left more in the hands of the survivors rather than the Others for once, and the plot is pushed in a new direction. So yes, things were changed, just not like you wanted them to be.