SE wants and expected free companies to be huge. That's why they allow over 500+ members, while linkshells were meant to be for our smaller social groups, close friends, coil statics, etc.

If 500 members donated only 100k each, that's 50mil right there, while some of the richer players could donate more if they wanted. Housing doesn't seem so bad if this was the case.

I am just playing devil's advocate here, though, as my own FC has only 45members(including alts/mules). I'm just trying to apply some kind of logic to the housing prices, and looking at it this way, it seems to make a little more sense!