There may be a need for HTC to crop some of the larger maps if their is a shortage of usable small population maps. I've read elsewhere that the company doesn't work on maps, arguing lack of resources. I do not know if this is true or not.
I do know that maps are the underpinning of the play environment and are one of the primary factors in the customers' overall game experience. Having the wrong maps in the rotation just for the sake of having another map is counterproductive. If a map is being used, it should be confirmed as enhancing game play, not hindering it, based upon current population levels. There are several huge maps in rotation now doing the latter, not the prior.
How HTC handles that (removes them or modifies them) is up to them based on their available resources. IMO however, its one of the key factors facing the health of the game today. Currently, if you have an uber-map stuck in place for a week, AH is a game that is, at best, playable and inviting for 3-4 hours a day when you have numbers in the 300 range. One cannot stress this enough. With a huge map the game is not inviting to customers for roughly 20 hours a day.
How does that fit into a business plan or marketing discussion? I'd like to be in that meeting because it would be interesting to see how this is not a priority.