ROX...
If you have only been around for a year or so, I can understand how you feel about side balancing and eny. Because that would mean you weren't here prior to HT's side balancing efforts. Back then, its wasn't 2 countrys in the 120s and 1 in the 90s. It was 2 countrys in the 120s and 1 country with 400+. Without some effort to balance the game, it might well be dead now (it was certainly heading that way). The 1 hour country change was implemented to facilitate the eny side balancing. Change that to 24 hours, the side balancing would be hosed.
As for Dan's question about what the arena is for, the creator (hallowed be his code!) added all of the strategic elements and win the war crap to enhance the combat aspects of the game. It has been stated more than once, the point of the game is not to "win the war" but to
FIGHT the war. That being said, attempting to give a modicum of balance to the arena odds is essential to good game play. Players having the ability to change sides, relatively often is an integral part of that system.
BTW, contrary to what you want to believe, the community (here and in the MAs) doesn't have to be divided. It just needs to understand and agree that the point of the game is to fight. All too often for the last few years, folks have come here and found a haven where they can use shear numbers as a substitute for skill and strategy and
THAT is where the chasm starts in the community.
In addition, your sarcastic remark about the players that you say "swore to keep the balance in the arena" is out of line. Quite a few of those fellows were doing that sort of thing long before there was an Aces High and have much better reputations than yours when it comes to how much they care about the game and its community. FYI, while in many cases they are skilled enough that a few of them can make a difference (well...meybe not Mensa), they are only a small percentage of the over all number in any of the LW arenas. So, for you...or anyone else to expect them to balance the arena for you is foolish. However, the do at least attempt to fight the tyranny of the Horde Monkeys.
I will close now. It is getting late for me.