I’m glad they quashed the rumor that the AH NPC would be removed from the mount. More importantly, they tipped their hand as to the real reason for mount removal here:
They want to be able to use the AH to keep funneling players into the old capital cities so the game doesn’t look like a wasteland. Same reason portals around the world were gutted and put in the portal rooms. Same reason we can’t have an AH in current content capitals. They want the illusion of a thriving population.