Assuming he is correct that we are going at a 1.5 rate, then the 20% annual rate will be 8 months long instead of 12 months, which would mean we will be going to go to the 15% annual rate in approximately 6 months.
If this is even remotely correct, then the coin will be getting rarer faster, which should mean prices increase faster, as supply diminishes sooner. Does anyone know at what block # is the rate reduction supposed to be activated at? Does this also mean that the total coin cap will be less?
No, if they are finding blocks faster it doesn't mean a lower total coin cap, it just means the cap (and milestones along the way, such as the interest rate dropping) may be reached faster.
I don't necessarily buy into this whole "oh but that's good news it will help prices" argument. It seems logical, but in reality I have just seen too many altcoins that continued to drop in value after significant events that decreased coin production, like reward halving, took place.