The way they handled personal housing will effect everyone. The problem is, we may not see the effects of it initially which is extremely dangerous. This empowers RMT and the well-off people who have leveled alts, allowing them to completely circumvent the free company leveling system for more gardening space.

This does not empower the common player, and it certainly does not empower any new players either. It dissuades them. This will have a long-lasting effect on player attrition and it will continue to either allow prices to stay the same and/or drive them up further. This was nothing but a negative choice, period. Resource potential that could have been used to the benefit of everyone wasn't and was instead given to the very people that have more than enough. Nobody will be spared from this effect, remember that.