Did minecraft 1.4.2 nerf high level enchantments in favour of the new Anvil?
For fun, I figured I'd test this out. It would be understandable to nerf enchanting a little, I suppose, because of all the ways available to gain exp now. (breeding, fishing added with 1.4.2)
Fortunately, I can't seem to find anything to suggest it's been nerfed. A good googlin' gives me nothing to suggest the nerf either. Just now I received, with L26 enchants on all:
An iron axe got efficiency 4, unbreaking 3, fortune 2.
Iron sword: smite 3, looting 2.
Iron pickaxe: unbreaking 3. Eh.
Iron shovel: fortune 2, unbreaking 3.
Last night I received sharpness 3+ fire 1 on my diamond sword with a level 26 enchant as well.
Mojang's good with telling us these things, I think it's safe to say there's been no nerf.