other good changes since we've played: holdings are actually worth owning.. you boost the loot obtained from harvesting and farming mobs within the guild's area of influence. In addition each city/hamlet has a levy that fills up with a portion of objects farmed/harvested in that particular holding's area, when its full anyone can empty its contents and claim them for themselves. They also act as pvp radars, of you notice a levy filling up, someone is likely farming in the area.
villages are dropping 40k gold + rare mats.. there has been a decent fight at ever single one I've been to