I thought I would post this in this thread rather than start a new one.

I have recently put in a few npc 9s by one of my cities. I put them there so my politics heros I got from Helm of Mars I recently opened could get a good start in life, rather than just dismiss them. I could go further into this method I use, but to be honest the point here is not why I use them, but the very fact that I do use them.

I was looking around the map from another city checking out for any newcomers in the locality, particularly reds, and happened to see I had a couple of level 10 flats close to a city. I then realised it was the city I put the 9s next to.

I have been hitting these 9s very regularly. there is not a chance I missed a day. Actually today would have been the day to miss them as I have basically taken the day off having played intensively for the past week. So I know for a fact these npcs 9s were in use and with a perfectly good and valid reason. That is until today.

So I am left wondering why we have different level npcs if they can get taken away when in use and right next to a city. They certainly were not put there to block my area up to prevent people from hitting me. I am quite happy for a red flag to port next to me, the bigger the better as it goes. I could have left them a day longer if I wanted and then with them being 10s, they would probably still be there. In fact, in a months time I would have most likely capped them and ported them out to make 10s once they had fully served their purpose.

I am not putting this in as a rant or a direct complaint, but rather as a point of discussion. I am an experienced player and I frequent the forums when my time allows so I have followed most discussion on this subject. I have stated what has happened clearly as a matter of fact and look forward to anyone's views on this or even an official response on the policy of npc removal and the criteria for this.