@Lord
Each game balances the weapons around macro data of the latter, to help low-popularity weapons play more and focus on the most popular weapons less. Horn was the least used weapon in the world, and Ichinose is a hunting horn chief, and wanted people to start using it.
According to leaks it will have a separate mode that works as before, but in its current form it is definitely the best weapon for DPS that excludes Langswaard (and LS has a flaw where Helm Splitter does more damage than it will do) the full game, so HH may be even closer to LS than we realize).
We do know that adaptation and interchangeable movements will be in play, per data mining and leaks. To what extent we do not know, but it may just be wire bug movements. It likes how art could be swapped in MHGU as you unlocked more.
I really recommend Charge Blade and Switch Ax. Such satisfying weapons to use.
Based on your healing remark, I assume you skipped the world? I was so used to old school mechanics, and my knee-jerk reaction was to reject many of the newer QoL improvements (like healing). But when I finished the world, I realized it was the best. There are no safe zones in an open area map, and more aggressive, more fluid monster attacks balance the movement together as it heals.
But in Rise, they kind of changed it World. It’s more of a hybrid between the world and the old school. You immediately receive a partial cure and fill it slowly over time as long as you do not cancel or touch. In World you did not get healing right away, and in old games you got everything at once. This new system ensures that even if you fall away or get hit during the animation, you will still be punished, but not a full penalty of 100%. More than 75%. I think this is a fair compromise. It can be immediate enough to keep you alive if you have a little health while you are poisoned.
If you come from the old school games, it must be a lot of changes. I remember having to adjust to all the changes in the world, but now they just feel normal.