I have read the posts, all of them, but still fail to see why techraiding / going-for-a-fight is such
a bad thing that it scares new players away.
If anything, it drives them into an alliance. In fact, thats the main part of the general recruitment message from any alliance.
"we will protect you" (meaning: the CN world is a bad place to be in if not protected).
Once in a alliance they (new players) have to follow 'rules', do not attack <insert treaties etc etc>.
The only more or less safe way to practise/perform attacks is on...unaligned players.
If alliances would NOT protect nations below xxxx infra you would probably get a more
levelled playing field in which everybody has more action and fun.