As a relative newcomer to the game, I'm still learning the nuances of the community and environment as a whole.
I'm a military historian by trade, and I'd love to participate in smaller maps with older, more limited aircraft that test piloting skills instead of who's got the Tempest or 262.
Personally, I like the Titanic Tuesday concept. It's cool, lots of people, lots of things to do, and several ongoing battles at one time all over the map. But that takes numbers. I understand the team balance and having a soft cap to keep some parity is not a bad idea.
I'm probably way off, but I think that increasing the population density of an arena by reducing the map size isn't a bad idea. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone complaining that an arena was too crowded aside from waiting to get in because of a cap.
In the end, it's all about targets and objectives. I think compressing a map allows that to happen, you force players to interact more closely, and it creates an enironment that allows a side to actuall push towards winning a war.
That being said, I like what you've done HiTech. Its inevitable that with this many people, everyone wants something specific. But it's your show. As for the 'them' versus 'me' debate, perhaps developing a think tank of people you've come to know, trust, etc., might not be a bad idea. It's always better to have several sets of eyes looking at a problem, as we all see things differently. I've got a video gaming background, military historian, ran an air museum for nearly a decade, and I've flown for years. I'll gladly volunteer to help out with anything that will improve the game.
Jeff