Workshops being ran through Garlond Ironworks (or Skysteel Manufactury once you have a high enough MCH) make the most sense to me, as we already do enough work for either that asking for a workshop to tinker in would probably pique even Nero's interest.

As far as instanced housing goes.... there's a definitely RP side to the whole ward thing as that enables you to go clubbing in FFXIV, so while I can see that as a complement to the ward system, the ward system itself should still be supported. Unfortunately, until gardening gets decoupled from housing (run that through BTN?) it's still going to cause a problem. IMO, I'd rather have a skyship as my personal house as that allows for an instanced house that people may want to pick up... but it shouldn't prevent you from being able to acquire other forms of housing.