Majority of the players only play for xp.
Those few that play for other reasons, are the ones actually playing strat, the others just confused mercing in battles with playing strategus
3-4 month rounds sound a lot more fun, more medium sized wars, players are forced to act faster, and an economical war might be possible.
Apostates have not really been trading in a few months now i think, and absolutely 0 since last war started, yet i have gear (shiny shiny shiny) for each troop i have + enough upkeep for months...