I don't think things would change too much. The motivations that brought the AS to where they are right now are still the same, so I have to think that they wouldn't change much.

I do agree that people would either respect/love or distrust/hate the AS no matter whether they were bound or not. And the WoT rumor-mill can really be an annoying thing, so stories of AS being unbound or bound to kill or whatever would be floating around no matter what.

As to effects on the AS themselves, any differences from the lack of the oaths would be gradual and occur over much time - how long would it take before you'd have full AS who never had to operate under the oaths at all? Probably a very long time...

As a practical matter, the AS could go back to making OP weapons. They would also have a big vulnerability to DFs and BA, assuming no one but Mesaana knew how to circumvent the oaths (which I think is the case).

Of course, it would be a different and harsher world if AS could flat-out lie. AS who grow used to such freedom might - or never lived with it at all - might grow worse with language and picking their words carefully.

Also, AS would be free to hurt normal people and kill whoever they want. That would be a potential problem, from a PR and accountability perspective...