I think you really missed the point in what Palem was saying.
If you can't deviate from your current strategy, even enough to compensate what comes out to be 8% of you KD's population, then you don't appear to be much of a strategist at all, and your entire argument is void. At that point, you're just mad because cookie cutter rinse and repeat stuff doesn't work as well anymore. Those are my own words; not putting words in his mouth.
That being said, yes this could have been timed better, such as at the beginning of the next age, before ticks started. This would have allowed people more wiggle room, and the ability to adjust Race/Personality combinations to compensate.