Yep it would, but I guess it depends on how you quantify "population" if you mean mains and alts then it sure would cut it down. If you mean just mains then maybe, maybe not so much.. In any case if there was ever a point in the game when you would consider making such a change it would be now while the population is so low would it not ?

1. Beta 2 entrances: I agree. Also need to address the issue of entry to the green beta 1, one bot can watch both entrances.
2. using existing models in more specialized ways: Whilst I agree with this we need to be aware of the population problem. With such a small population it can be difficult for a small gang to utilise specialist bots, thus rendering them (for all intents and purposes) useless in the overall scheme of things. If we have sufficient people to be in specialist roles then sure, lets have those options available, but isn't there other things with more priority at this stage?

[root@gateway ~]# traceroute  relay.perpetuum-online.com
traceroute to relay.perpetuum-online.com (109.236.88.139), 30 hops max, 60 byte packets
1  lns20.bne4.on.ii.net (150.101.180.143)  43.415 ms  45.063 ms  46.234 ms
2  xe-0-2-0.cr1.bne4.on.ii.net (150.101.33.134)  46.189 ms  48.153 ms  50.119 ms
3  ae6.br1.syd7.on.ii.net (150.101.33.76)  112.127 ms  112.092 ms  112.056 ms
4  te0-1-1-3.br2.sjc2.on.ii.net (150.101.33.149)  226.004 ms te0-2-0-3.br2.sjc2.on.ii.net (203.16.213.158)  227.676 ms te0-1-1-3.br2.sjc2.on.ii.net (150.101.33.149)  225.934 ms
5  tge1-3.sjo01-1.us.as5580.net (198.32.176.206)  230.867 ms  232.842 ms  232.808 ms
6  eth1-2.r2.chi1.us.as5580.net (78.152.44.198)  296.799 ms * *
7  eth7-2.edge1.nyc4.us.as5580.net (78.152.63.53)  281.245 ms  281.197 ms  283.128 ms
8  * * *
9  et-00-00-01.core01.lon10.uk.as5580.net (78.152.53.46)  386.261 ms  386.359 ms  386.284 ms
10  et-02-00-00.core02.lon01.uk.as5580.net (78.152.53.45)  386.211 ms  386.165 ms  386.121 ms
11  ae01.core02.ams02.nl.as5580.net (78.152.53.229)  366.031 ms  356.396 ms  359.321 ms
12  * eth2-5.edge1.ams5.nl.as5580.net (78.152.44.133)  420.193 ms *
13  eth2-4.edge1.rtd1.nl.as5580.net (78.152.44.32)  399.041 ms  392.913 ms  398.885 ms
14  78.152.32.175 (78.152.32.175)  627.838 ms * *
15  * * *
16  * * *
17  * * *
18  * * *
19  * * *
20  * * *
21  * * *
22  * * *
23  * * *
24  * * *
25  * * *
26  * * *
27  * * *
28  * * *
29  * * *
30  * * *

Here's mine from AU. Not sure if the target address correct tho.. Happy to stand corrected on that. As you can see everything just stops at hop 14. Also notice the jump in response time from hop 13 to hop 14
[edit] Also be aware ICMP packets may be deliberately being dropped after hop 14. Whilst this is generally frowned upon, people do do it.   Ohh dear, I said do do..

Agree with ville on this one, it needs fixing. TBH I never understood why we need a dedicated structure to mine it anyway, it's only available on gamma, just drop the requirement for a tower.

Good luck with the move, hope it all goes well...

It's being done on alpha, if it was done on beta/gamma the scanner would die. I have been advocating removal of chassis scanners for  a long time. You spend time and effort on developing a unique fit, then you undock and some turd targets and scans you, and there goes the time and effort spent designing it. Everyone may as well just run exactly the same fits. In my opinion if anything should be removed form the game, it should be this.

Ok so maybe "gamma" is not the correct term for them, seeing as there would be no terraforming or base building on them. I guess they would be more like beta 2's but with the same value artefacts/mobs/dynamic events etc.. Would that make the idea more acceptable ?

PS: ohh and no highways

I quite like the sound of this, add in some dynamic events happening at random as you move around and it would be quite a bit of fun. I also like the idea of not having a home (base) and just roaming around like a nomad. Maybe you find someone, maybe not. In any case it's more sand to play with and that has to be worth at least trying.

ohh comon Ville, you know perfectly well that until recently you guys were the ones that comprised the majority of the server. We could, on rare occasion, muster a dozen pvp'ers against you at best. What's changed is the majority of your alliance has stopped playing, now more times than not we can field even numbers.

Not whining, just pointing out the basic facts.

Yeah people can spend more money on coffee/fast food in a day.

I don't think they should be allowed under the public NPC beta stations. There should be an exclusion zone around those stations. I have no issues with them under player owned stations and I do think having different types of probes with different lifetimes/timers and cost adds variety and flexibility.