I know another problem... one that has nothing to do with NPCs, but everything with a now overly crowded server...

I had 5 cities close to another, close enough that they can work together.
The merger came and due to real life (the one where you earn money to pay for the game) i could not do anything really in the first week.

Now there are no spots to be found where a small player like me can get his cities in so he can grow again.

result: another lost customer and more NPC cities.

Effect of the merger: loss of players, gain on NPC cities.

Intended effect (as read in this thread): reduction of NPC cities

So... they screwed up and accomplished the opposite

Oh well, they are probably part of the Sony coorporation, they are just as dumb in respect to customer satisfaction.