Some want to see the MWs scrapped others want to see if SE can make it work. Maybe a compromise would be in order. I can see and agree with the point that having multiple retainers per character would be an issue for the server to handle as well as it just being silly overall to have a tax for items simply because people are forced to put them in a separate ward because of space constraints or they want to sell different items from different fields. However, I also see the "shopping around" theory being plausible as well since the original system was implemented to be more based on what someone was willing to pay rather than price comparing like an AH. If you did not like what someone was selling an item for you could shop around for a better price. It also made it virtually impossible for people to gouge players and control the MWs.

On to a possible solution. Link the 3 current MWs. Remove additional retainers (ie. one per character) and turn the additional retainer into a safe with 200 slots. Make the retainer have 0 storage slots but a 20 slot bazaar. Minimize or remove the tax for items being from different wards. Add a minimal tax (1-3%) for shipping costs from other cities where a persons retainer might be posted. Have quests in game that allow you to "upgrade" both your retainer and safe space (maybe 5 quests each to increase retainer slots by 2 each quest and safe space by 20 each quest). Simplify the retainer interface by giving access to both your personal inventory and your safe inventory.