Those opposing this change need to read this thread.
Just to give an insight, long ago and before sparks(some but not all players did industry/gathering on beta and not only epriton). They were relatively safe because arkhes were set at TPs to watch out for enemies (only point of entry) . This led to enemy roaming groups taking their time to kill any solo miners/haulers, they did this because they knew players felt safe most of the time, alliances kept watch, but sooner or later keeping watch has it's limits and some crept in looking for kills.
Sparks and other mechanics also at play here, adding like detectors, speed change and lockdowns of OPs. But once sparks came in, it became too easy to defend multiple islands, it also became harder for small roaming groups to get kills, this led to the largest or most active groups to take most of the server at will. The rest grew tired and staged from alpha (beta 1 terminals where always camped with sparks in an out so it was not an ideal place for a home station which it has not been the case in the past).
Since then the power projection took it's toll, beta was unsafe and practically locked down, trolls took control and they had their fun, but once the losing side (always the least active or with less numbers) left. There was little to no pvp and numbers since then has just gone spiraling down.
Some oversimplification but generally true.
RIP PERPETUUM