That's understandable, yep, reducing the number of channels would also impact lifeskillers, you're right.

In fact, the idea would not to restrict owpvp but to encourage owpvp between those who really want to actively take part in it at a given moment. In that idea, the sheriff system would be better, but there are many other possibilities. 

I don't think the psychology really matters, it's what pays the bills that do. Keeping the game PvPvE is the way they make most of their money because of the cron system. Without it, this game would have been dead a long time ago. That said, if they lose the sale of a few people who are too scared to go to marni's playground, it won't matter because I highly doubt that number is even in the dozens.

The fact that they added Marni's playground into the game is great because it finally relieves the congestion issue and the real anxiety isn't facing another player without concequence but to risk losing all of your buffs that you placed on your character. Every second is a lot of money and xp wasted if you don't use it when you have well over a dozen buffs going at once. I think it would be better at 2 hours because of weekends but it is what it is.