In war, if your going to be opped, you will be opped.
It is pointless to carry around 1-2+million wizards/agents. That is hurting your income.
You need to look at the meantime. Most wars are won from savings, not the resources/income you make during the war.
Pop banking generates more cash in the meantime - which is what matters. Just expect that when war does come, that you have saved enough to survive the war. Your pop will be gone, and upkeep/refleeting will come from your smaller CF bankers.
Thats just the circle of life here on IC.
Why do we keep having the same old debates, year after year?
Theres no reason why a small family can not have the income from pop bankers, sure it'll hurt during war, but you will be bigger and stronger in the meantime.
"One day we shall see the dragon smiling."