Since upgrading to 2.9, I noticed that database activity list view now has entries per page, search and sort by positioned on separate lines below the tabs and above the list of entries with lots of white space. Previously these items were in a neat line below the list of entries (screenshots to be added).

I don't understand the reason for this change. I thought that 'View list' was primarily for displaying the list of entries and the 'Search' tab for searching entries?

Sorting of entries can be done by adding links to list view table headings (as done in the moodle.net course content database. Thus I'm wondering was it really necessary to move the sort by setting to above the list of entries?