I guess zoners are the very best example of how players can ruin a basically cool NPC faction.
Instead of trying to solve the problems with their NFZs by talking (thats what you always liked so much, right?) you simply avoid them completely by hiding behind the new defined neutrality.
Hope there will be some consequences this time like the already mentioned hostile to houses politics change.
btw what is the longrange goal of the official zoner facs?
Having the advantage of neutrality for power trading etc. but none of the disadvantages given by it like solving conflicts caused by the different groups of ppl around zoner bases?
great plan really.