I've noticed that the AI and I are still city spamming after 1.0.8.  With higher costs to pioneers and merchants, it's just taking us a little longer to get started.  Perhaps a better way is to go back in time like we did in early beta and make city's cost essence.  Think about it.  It's the perfect answer.  Do you want a super sovereign with tons of mana or a bunch of spellcasters or a bunch of cities or some balance in between?

Like I said, I think all the pioneer and merchant changes did was delay the eventually city spam until turn 100 which makes the first 100 turns really boring now!

Thanks for your consideration.