Seeding is no different than having bots. Sure we advertise 'No bots' but we have players sitting in spec, basically acting like fake clients.
The whole point, is that they're real people, not fake bots. I think thats what the whole point of it is =. People taking their time to do it, not having some simulated machine do it for them.
I think we should stop.
I also thing the award ribbon for seeding should be removed, since it would be unfair for those who can no longer obtain it.

I don't know why we're adopting the counterproductive strategy known as server seeding.
Look, when people come in on what they expect to be a 5 man fight in the hopes of trying to seed the server and wind up playing 2v2 because two people are seeding, they're gonna leave almost instantly, and it gives us a really bad name.
Think of the storm when people start posting and complaining: " zomggg ego admins idling in their own servers!1!!!111!!"
The one thing this will do is cause our server score to drop when people join and then leave. If we want to seed, let's do it right, have our people go on the servers when they're not playing, invite some of their friends, and we're done.
Our current seeding policy, it's setting a dangerous precedent, it's tantamount to advertising fake server counts. And we wouldn't do that, would we?
This seeding policy has been in effect for a while now. Garden isn't talking about starting one, more about changing the current one.
Also, on the false advertising, I agree that 4+ seeders gives us a bad name, but people can click the info button and see that a score of 0 over 6 or more hours probably means that person is seeding. That, or thetag in their name.
I think we should stop.
To be perfectly honest, seeding isnt any better than putting bots in there , imho. We are doing exactly the same thing really, as those other clans trying to remain in the top server ranks. Except we loose a certain amount of esteem and credibility by doing this, bring us down to their level which is a shame considering how proud we all are of ego and what we all stand for.
Its not honest and goes against what we try to achieve in ego. I can understand the reasoning around why you would have us seed, but in principle its dishonest .
I am quite happy going to a server with a few friends and get it filled up..its quite easy to do and players are usually more than happy to help out. Granted in the off peak hours its harder to keep the servers full, but incentives always help. I know we dont like to reward people all the time for their help but players like casino cash and little acheivement awards, those never hurt !
Its normal to worry about server ranking, but I believe that if we get enough dedicted ego members involved we can get those servers hopping.
In fact, I would go so far as to challenge like minded members. Lets have some Server Starter Challenges going. I bet you cant populate a server quicker than me.. anyone wanna put themselves to the test and take the challenge .. we can go head to head to get the servers rocking.