Mods are nice, but you definitely do not want to rely solely on mods to make a good game. If we let mods implement all the cool stuff, you will have dozens of mods that might not be compatible with each other, using different launching methods, and breaking saves every time one mod changes something. Late-game goals need to be part of the main game, built in to the vanilla experience.
Nah, it's crap. If you execute them, fine, take the relations hit, but them falling in honorable battle? That shouldn't punish the player like that.
I can see the validity of that, but regionalization needs to be somewhat rational too. It makes sense for the Aserai to not have fur production areas, just like it makes sense for the Sturgians to not have date production areas.
I'm not sure if it got fixed, but in earlier versions, dumping a lot of goods on a town brought caravans swarming like flies to buy up the now dirt cheap goods you sold. It was a problem when you fixed starving towns by selling lots of food. Just something to be aware of.