The short answer to your questions is that they slowed down throw speeds from 4, 5, 6, or 7 frame start up throws to a range of 5-12 start up throws depending on character. This made it so you really couldn't punish holds with throws on reaction like you could in DOA2 and DOA3.
Even then, there are many times in DOA4 where the player can hold immediately after getting hit and actually recover from the hold before the attacking player recovered from the attack that stunned the holding player, granting them frame advantage for being hit.
Even then, there are many times in DOA4 where the player can hold immediately after getting hit and actually recover from the hold before the attacking player recovered from the attack that stunned the holding player, granting them frame advantage for being hit.