Much of what you suggested in your first post we've already done, Daulnay. Just making sure you know that, as it might not be clear:
1) You can convert from a Free Access account to one requiring a subscription at any time. Just create your dragon character, you'll have some free trial time (I believe it is two weeks) before you have to have a Basic Subscription (which is just $9.95 per month, btw, it is only $14.95 if you want a plot.)
3) The cost of plots is something we're always looking at and adjusted. The most recent adjustment reduced them to where we believe that by the time someone is of level to join the construction schools, they should be able to buy a basic plot. We've compared this to how much coin reward for doing quests (don't forget to include Town Marshall quests, for example) as well as "Junk Loot" drop rates. There's a lot of ways to earn coin in Istaria now, and though we're always looking at that balance, we think we've got it pretty good at the moment.
4) When you leave the game and stop subscribing, even if you leave your plot "as is", when it is reclaimed you do not lose everything. The plot is automatically deconstructed and you get 80% of the novians from it, as well as all items stored on the plot, back, plus the cost of the plot (minus the "Imperial Tax" of course.) For most players, rebuilding that 20% and repurchasing a new plot if they return even after years, is a pretty fast process. So really, a plot is "mothballed" (as you put it), just in the form of novians in your vault.
And thank you for your support on Greenlight.