Answer to first question - SE didn't want to start the lottery with wards being split based on individual world needs so every world was hit with a worst case scenario split. They'll switch those some of the FC wards to personal in a few months if there are any left that haven't been filled by shell FCs.
Answer to second question - shell FCs been the way to get priority housing in the game since 4.2. You don't have to do it, but it's a lot harder to get a house if you don't. FCs will always have advantage due to the FC only content locked behind house ownership.
Island Sanctuary is not housing.
You do know that on many worlds, half the FC plots had no bids at all don't you?
I counted up my ward yesterday as the initial chaos was going on. Out of 60 houses, 27 did not have any bids at all. Only 7 houses had a winning number of 0. My ward is half empty because there weren't enough potential buyers and other wards are in similar shape.
The ward OP displays is probably in a similar state.
YoshiP stressed that Island Sanctuary is non-competitive. Gardening is competitive content due to the marketboard.
We know it has some form of gathering but it's not going to be anything we currently have available. More likely that gathering will be used to gain resources to upgrade features on the Island or to support other Island specific content.
Far better to stop hoping that Island Sanctuary is some sort of housing feature solution. On the very remote chance if does turn out to be, you'll have a pleasant surprise.
I don't recall them saying it would happen after the first round, just that they could make changes in the future if they feel there's a need.
It also wouldn't make sense to do it after the first round. A second round would be needed so those who competed against other FCs and lost got another chance.
