For those of you who remember back that far, it seemed as though a handful of people could take down a town, and capture the field. Some people complained about this and over time it got to where it is now. Back then even though maps flowed quickly, and bases were taken easily when not opposed, it had the effect of spreading out the players. Many bases were flashing, you could get involved in many 1v1 , 2v2 fights.
Since the change Ive noticed a "flocking" to a base, by the majority of the players. It seems necessary to have that many people to take a base, because they have alot of targets. Any given night you can log on and see the map, and usually the majority of the players are at 2 bases, either defending a base against one enemy, or all at another enemy's base trying to take it.
Probably many people like this. Target rich and all that. Myself, I preferred the old way, where the fights were spread thin, but memorable. By making it easier to take bases with fewer people, fewer people were at one base, it spread it out across the map, creating smaller engagements, which to me was much more enjoyable.
I was just thinking about this stuff tonight while I was sitting in the tower, with the 1000 yard stare at the map again.