Islamadon

I don't see how stories of certain groups achieving success in a failing system redeem the issues of said system?

As far as I know, it only requires 1% activity to keep your settlement. If the average server pop is, at best, ~200, that's 4 players a week you need to RP in your settlement. If you can't maintain a consistent 4 PEOPLE you shouldn't even be considered for an independent settlement in the first place! The Minitz docks pull that number, random taverns can pull that number, a random guild in a city can pull that number... Its not a failed system because some people can't stay alive with the absolutely minimal requirements of being considered for a considerably sized region and freedom from nations.