1) Add instanced houses to the instanced apartment systems. Some (most?) of us just want an exterior and gardening space.
2) I realize this might be controversial. If always-on wards do in fact require significant additional server resources there should be a (small) additional monthly fee required. This money could be used to expand server resources to allow for more wards if necessary so that everyone that wanted one could get one. It would also discourage individual players from hoarding large amounts of plots.