What if
I can’t say much about all, but if the illusions and phantasms could warp to the target to use the shatter it would be extremly overpowered in PvP. Imagine you running away from a mesmer, normally you could dodge and run away from the clones because you could see them coming. But if they could warp you would instantly gain the condition that they apply. Mesmers would be dominating even more in PvP.
That is my opinion
Making the shatter skills slot skills and use self-recharging mantra skills as the class mechanic sounds like an excellent idea to me (mainly because I don’t like shattering at all except Mind Wrack as a finisher – shattering in the middle of combat makes me feel very vulnerable for very little benefit).
This way, Mantras would see actual use, shattering would become optional and we’d get rid of the incessant voice quips for recharging Mantras. Everybody wins.
I don’t really like the way they work either, they should explode and not have to run to the target, and do aoe on that target and not the clones locations.
I myself have thought our new "diversion, and new “distortion” would be better off replaced with some kind of control.