Hitech made a response to this some years back along the lines of. If you can mute it, no one will use it, and the worst conditions of self segregation and balkanization will be fostered. New players will suffer the most. And find themselves quickly not interested in moving up from a free two week trial to a paying subscription. Ahsta La Bye Bye future of the game due to dwindling new subscriptions. But, for a short while, you guys will be happy.
Goes back to many Hitech answers about wishes, along the lines that most players only wish for something selfishly about themselves. Damn the consequences, and who cares if it inadvertently poops on the game as a whole.
This wish is really,
Mr. Hitech,
Pease listen to me so I can drive away potential new customers, because I only care about what I want out of this game right now, and screw the future. I've got other games if you actually screw up and listen to me. But, I still want what I want anyway.
And thus, why Hitech seems more so over the years to be at odds with his long term subscribers and their self serving demands, as time in grade breeds a sense of entitlement. Give me what I want because I have earned it in your game x number of years, x number of $14.95 a month. A lot of entitlement for .50 cents a day. I would hate to read what you threaten your beer companies with.