Interesting arguments both ways between Uriah and Omnius. I actually agree with both, but from a differing perspective with regards to Luna homes. I agree with Uriah in that it's your house and nobody else’s and do with it what you want. I also believe (with deep regret) that Luna has become the crown jewel of most shards for vending and interacting with players. A well set up and vended Luna (with places to go like taverns, rare museums, starting point for in game player events, etc) can really make a shard. I do know people who have left this shard because of lack of item availability (reason’s like, I can’t ever find this scroll, powder of fort, imbuing ingredients to make suits so I can play, I can’t find a stone table to decorate my house or decorations for it). Last night a guy needed an orni to finish his suit. Just about every shard has one for sale except us. He never found one for sale. Our small shard and the dwindling population of Ultima has a direct correlation too what is occurring in luna on your shard. If you like it or not, a strong Luna means a strong backbone for your shard and support for the players in it. Believe me when I say, I miss the days of good vendor shops throughout the shard (like woody’s), but those days are mostly gone.
As far as selling things, I can tell you I run a semi successful vendor shop on the south side of Luna (orcs head inn). And stuff does sell on legends. I could easily sell it for more on other shards, but I prefer to enhance the economy of legends. In fact, it sells so fast that I have a hard time keeping things stocked. I have a castle full of sorted items I don't have time to place on vendors (min 100k gp items). I believe a good vending system on legends would allow for price stabilization in Luna and allow people to keep interest in the shard. I can’t tell you how many times time I have heard in vent that "this shard is terrible, just look at Luna and the vendors on the shard". I like what urza has done to the gate house (all though I would like to see seasonal themes i.e. Halloween, Christmas, new years, Valentine’s Day, etc, and stuff that would tap into his creativity). I like the rune libraries; I like a lot of things about Luna currently. Shopping on UO is one thing everyone does, it could be for PVP items, deco, pvm items, etc and luna is the place for it.
I have no issue with how thunder used his houses (he had a museum, free vendor rental spots, rune library, etc.). I will also take no issue with how the current owners use their homes. However, I believe that luna could be so much more under the current owners who have time to do things with it. In a perfect ultima, the main gathering point (luna) would be full of things to do, activities, places to visit and things to buy. Basically, things people enjoy in Ultima.
I look at the possibility not what it was or is.