How about tuesday WOEs? Guilds with fewer members won't stand a chance against other guilds who have the number, especially with guardian stones repaired.
About AK, Haterz became AK with 28 members without alliance from others on their last defs, so I think we shouldn't have a problem with that, it comes down to who has a better GM and better players.
Besides, it's just recent when lots of things have changed during WoE, like having only 28 members, no alliances, buffing guardians, disabling guild emblems, etc. I don't think we should change it just yet with the current number of players we have.