I for one would prefer the rules remain unchanged. As someone without a group of friends that still plays (and I don't plan to make ooc friends with any of the current players) I see nothing but potential negatives from a change to status quo. The most obvious negative, and one that I feel is reasonably likely to play out, is a harder time finding groups in general whether it be ranking groups, exploring groups, etc. If permas are allowed more openly, so people can rank from level 1 to 51 with their friends, what happens to people without those connections? The pool of players to group with essentially shrinks by whatever the number of people who are permaing is. I do not see this a good for me.

It doesn't matter to me much as I rarely have time to play but I do feel like this would make the time I do play less fun.