"As you'll notice, even many Aldor and Scryer NPCs wear the SSO Tabard now."

Right, but that's the part that's bothering me. If they're at peace, and they're all wearing the same colors, why are they still at each other's throats?

"Since this game needs to be somewhat static for new players, they left in some of the faction mechanics."

That makes sense, when you put it that way, but I still don't see the reason for the *forced* hostility. I mean, you can either purchase items from the Aldor, or you can purchase items from the Scryers, but never both. The Reputation is the important part, and that's not gone away. So, why continue to restrict players to one section of the city or the other? I mean, how does having the guards attack you just because you got on the wrong lift convey the message of a "united front?" I mean, begging your pardon for dragging up an old phrase that is probably better left to die with the darker period of history that it represents, but it reminds me of the old "Separate But Equal" rule.