Nugnug is just mad he can't jack off while playing anymore because his AGs don't roll over riflenades that are more expensive and now he has to actually put effort into winning.
In the news forum there is a post describing how the warmap will work, tank130 has bribed EiRRMod into finishing before Christmas, we'll see if that bribe works.
I find that the playerbase is between 10-30 at all times, don't think I've ever seen it higher than 35, although I haven't been around for very long.
Also there were changes, 8 doctrines have been reworked with the last 4 scheduled before Christmas.