I hated the thought of NE but just because I was in Eastern Tsardom doesn't mean I agreed with it. I think all alliances that big like NE and UIF are carebear nutcuppers.
It's funny, because the NE was supposedly designed to thwart the possibility of any giant EU alliance invading and dominating most of the NA population. They must've borrowed their business model from the people they set out to work in counter to - but ended up being passive against them anyway.
...I would also add Mercs to that list, btw. They did great.
Yes, and the Mercs may have had support from elsewhere, but they still operated in relative independence. While I don't (didn't) enjoy the bullshit discussion surrounding that conflict, it had some impressive displays presented by both sides.
Back on topic: War is fun, peace is not. Being comfortable and having to deal with less stress might be easier, but it removes the entire reason the system of strategus was set up - to play dog gone Mountain Glade Moribund. On the other hand, I see no reason a grudge should be held against anyone, and by the same token, a claim on a territory (basically an excuse to form a grudge against people). How often is it real and viable to call dibs on something and get away with it? Anyway, let's get some new conflicts started!