I think you describe the situation very well, Kindle. I eventually came to a similar understanding only a couple weeks or so ago, probably about the same time as Samsara did. Realising that outposts are really nothing but PvP, and that they and faction really don't offer anything that either Jamela or Jamie wants eased quite a lot of stress, personally. And then my King went and said that he really doesn't give a damn about outposts either, so that put Jamela completely off the hook
Coexisting is going to be a bit difficult to work out. (This is going to get a bit "us and them", for which I apologise; while I think we can all play a bit of each others game and style, I really don't think you can be both - the cultures
are incompatible.) I can very happily get on with doing my own things while those that want to PvP get on with theirs, and I have had a lot of fun joining in to help my friends attack or defend outposts, or both

, when I could (
remembers Oisac and I trying to break up a spawn-camp in Dunes of Exile, absolutely hopelessly 
). And it seems to me that a lot of the outpost items are being shared pretty generously. Which is wonderful and contrary, I think, to the competitive culture that is PvP.
I don't know how my cooperative playstyle has any influence on those that want to compete, except when I show my support or when I have been outraged by their actions. I do think that their competitive playstyle does affect everyone, though, by denying content. The rarest content, of course, and therefore some of the very best.
A little anecdote:
The other day I was showing a couple of fresh refugees around; a little sightseeing and a few teleport pacts. "This is Psykopla Knoll. The kitin invaded all the Matis cities from here just after I arrived, I died just there - *points*" etc."Bodokin lives here, oh sorry he's not at home. Shame, 'cos he's a lot of fun

" ... "Psykokin grows here ... ummm, sometimes, I'm told". You see where this is leading? Gibbakin here, Ginkin there, Freakin up here, Munchkin over yonder. Not a single boss mob to be found on our wanderings. "No, there's no creature with THAT name, young matis, don't be rude!"
I may well be wrong, but it seems to me that
all of the queen creatures are being systematically harvested, just as some Supreme foraging sources have been for a long time. Only competitive players would do this - it makes sense to deny your opponents the best resources if you can. If so, this is a big problem because I think
everybody on Atys enjoys nothing more than the
discovery of something special that they haven't seen before. And the queens are beautiful
I thought of a couple of suggestions:
- PvE Tag: If a player is in a guild that owns an outpost, or if a player clicks "Attack" or "Defend" at the site of an Outpost battle, then this Tag is set and prevents them from attacking a queen mob or healing someone involved in an attack on a queen mob. It would also prevent them from digging all Supreme forage sources except for supernodes. The Tag clears itself one Jena Year, or perhaps an Atys cycle would be better, after the last such outpost action or ownership.
- Hamlet mobs: When a queen is killed a ghostly version takes her place until she respawns, so that at least explorers can enjoy some discovery and take pictures. This sprang to mind because I vividly remember spending weeks looking for kitin larvae when I heard they existed. They at least pop of their own accord, even if they have no content, so it was wonderful to find a source, only frustrating not to see any content for weeks and weeks.
While I like the Tag idea because it does something to redress the balance between PvP and PvE content - giving non-PvP people something special to trade with PvP people for Outpost resources - I think competitive natures will inevitably find a way round, leading to denial of content again.
Anyway, I've rambled long enough. Not going to say goodbye to Kindle because she left 2 months ago and must be due to come back any day now \o/
