No argument, you have your way of thinking. Not to say your area arena idea is good or bad, just sorry you have to forward it by pissing on the work of others.
While I often agree with you in your thoughts against people ramming strat down all players throats, I am equally against you ramming your area arena concept down our throats. Your proposal is just as exclusive as any of theirs were to you.
I wouldn't mind if you made comments about the CT if you would once condescend to enter the arena. Fact is, you don't. Worse, you talk about how bad it is when you never go in there yourself! The numbers don't always tell the story. The fights are fun in there, often more so than in the MA. I fly both, I know. I am also furballing in the CT, just like I do in the MA.
No, you won't admit it could be fun because you are too focused on getting what you want at the expense of what others do. And that is my final grind on this. You've forwarded an idea, big deal. YOU make the map. YOU set up and monitor the arena. YOU take the responses from players who don't even play in your arena but tell you how bad it is in there. If I was Nuttz I wouldn't touch your map with a ten-foot pole, because no matter what he does you're gonna piss on it anyway.
Now I'm being obvious.
Ideas are valuable and needed. The status quo needs shaken up occasionally. There is no panacea arena, so fresh ideas are good. In the end, someone has to make it happen. Should HTC? Maybe, but why now? They have growing numbers, not shrinking. Granted they will need to evolve or lose money eventually, but it seems to me they are enjoying the greatest growth since the start of the sim. In other words the "problems" you see are perceived by you.
I may have different ideas than those that currently set up our play, but you know what? Until I have the time or inclination to do it myself I cannot criticize the hard work they have done. Moreover, I find having variety in play to be a good thing, and if this means a different arena or two, especially when players have the power to dictate what happens in those arenas, I am all for it. If I like the setup, I fly it. If I don't, I won't. I don't have to tell the people what wussies they are, I just don't participate.
I am not trying to wave the poms; I am saying that a person as vehemently against certain types of play and as harshly critical of player-generated work as you are needs to do more than talk. You need to do some "work" yourself. If you ever do, I guarantee I will back you 100% against any love muffin that make comments about the efforts you've put forth- not that it matters to you if I do, but it hopefully explains where I am coming from here.