I've never understood how the folks who all crow about the need for "realism" suddenly rush to defend some arbitrary, unrealistic rule dreamed up around some conference table about some "problem" that's been around for, oh, about a decade or so without having too much of an impact on gameplay.
I agree with you about degradation of game play. So many arbitrary rules intended to fix problems and just causing other problems. This thing was a hell of a lot more fun when the community was allowed to find its own way.
But but, they were doing NOES!!! NOES!!
Do you realize the effect it was having on the game??
It was upsetting people who couldn't care less if a base was taken or not.
These same people will find a new red headed stepchild to harp about.
And then some people around a conference table will suddenly have an "epiphany" and make some new rules.
It will NEVER end.