Lower List / Core Rules update for Jan. 15th

It already did, yes. The Rulebook will be updated this weekend, I was just waiting for this last batch of changes to come out.

Since elemental damage has been reworked in effect, are the plans to replace the 4 "summon elemental" spells with something useable still in the offing?

Ok, so if a sensei, that now swings primal damage, what do they call damage-wise? Do I have the option of choosing the element and changing that element on a whim? Do i call 5 primal? 5 primal damage? 5 primal ice, 5 primal fire? 5 Primal Roar? Can i literally just swing at someone and course through the different elements until i see that something effects them noticeably more than something else, or just for fun?

1) We have had discussions about replacing summoning, but they were separate from the primal damage switch.

2) We will change Sensei to Primal damage, you will call 5 Primal

"The skill Armor Efficiency has been added to the Smith list at a cost of 4 build."

Will this require Puncture Armor as a pre-req (as it does for Dragoon)?

No Pre-Req for Smiths.

To clarify: "Elemental damage covers Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Ice, and Lightning damage. It is not its own damage type. Effects that key off Elemental damage work against all four elemental damage types."