Eh its a wait and see, but history is not on their side. AI is just so hard to do to a point where it doesn't get exploited by users once patterns are figured out. There was a post before from someone about UO. They had a nifty AI system or something but they had to scrap it because players would just camp a stage forever, never letting it expand. If you were to force it, then there is no "consequences" which seems what they are going for(that halas example, you may slow it down or something but you can't really stop it, its inevitable). From that, I gather everything is going to proceed no matter what, the speed is the only variable.
Again I think the only real way to have a "living" world is through player vs player interaction. It's the only form that cannot be reduced to patterns or programming.It's why EVE does so well, or the MOBAs, they are all based on PvP.