[sylphaen]

New continents also allow to increase the number of players per server (not per continent) which also increases the sense of scale from the game when you see all those continents being fought over from hundreds of players.

I don't see why PS2 should limit access to a main feature it offers (i.e. a feature that brings customers). Continents where only paying players can go may not even be played because there are barriers to entry while entries are needed to start up a good fight.

Outfits are also (usually) very reluctant to leaving behind one (or more) of their guys.

In the end, you would buy a continent only if many others have bought it just like you would play planetside only if there are enough other players. High pops should be encouraged, not limited.