Sounds like if you're interested in unlocking stuff, just uninstall and reinstall without being online (so this nasty little patch doesn't download). Still a crock of shit, though; this isn't a f2p title, so it shouldn't make you grind like one. I'm sure there'll be enough internet outrage to make WB change it in a few weeks.
Edit: Just wanted to throw out there, this is a direct result of gaming websites refusing to revisit their reviews after the game's been altered via patch.







