Wolfie, you (obviously) don't get what some of us are saying. We (some of us) like the shops, We (some of us) like the retainers. It's not a "strawman", it's not even really an argument. I like the idea of the wards being another interactive place to spend my time and
play a game.
I get that not everyone likes that, but until SE changes it, that is this game's design. I want to see it work, not throw it out. That is all.
I really appriciate that at least you try to find some compromise, thank you.
The bolded part stands out to me. Obviously the real issue is too many people selling too many different things. SE already said they were going to streamline the crafting items, so that should help, but I wonder if a system could be worked out... that the lower levels have to sell through the general merchant like you say... and work their way to owning a store.
Obviously many, many things would have to be worked out for that idea to work, but that's how ideas start.