If you place a comparator facing a dispenser and power the dispenser from another source, like a lever on another side, it will fire items rapidly like it previously did a few snapshots ago. Strange part is that the comparator doesn't have to be powered or linked to anything, and if you add more comparators to the other sides of the dispenser it will increase the rate of fire. Not sure if this is a feature or a bug, just wanted to let you know.