With regards to the possible upcoming housing relinquishments. . . . .

[Syrehn]

It is likely a dead horse, but that horse is what SE really needs to fix the housing issue.

Unless you are a SE programmer you can't say that for certain; none of us have any idea what their infrastructure is. Yoshi provided a response that was quoted in one of these threads about why they don't have instanced housing in relation to the current ward structure. Whether players choose to believe his explanation or not is entirely up to them.

I just would't hold out hope that they're going to change it; the probability of that happening isn't high.