The "exploiting" is really only maximizing map xp, which unless you're racing for something, is pretty pointless. I could see it as being an issue in 48h-2weeks races type of events where you'd absolutely want to maximize your atlas, but otherwise for most people, it's not gonna be a terribly big issue I'd say, since I'd bet most people don't bother leveling past 80-90 anyway, which is the only real time xp efficiency becomes a big concern. Although I'm sure a lot of people who aren't concerned by this will still bitch about it.
It was pretty much all expected stuff from the videos interviews they had given, no real surprise but I did expect the Atlas to be char based instead of account wide though.
Progress through the atlas will also be slower than the current acquisition of all the different maps due to the restrictions, meaning it's likely people will end up running more of the same maps than they do currently, which could be boring to some. The higher map drop rate might help a bit though.
They did respond, and are adding a "remove a map" currency.
its more then just exp though. clear speed=drop rate.
And, targeted map drop, means targeted map upgrades.
like, lets say you want to farm gorge still.
t13 gorge. attached to t14 shrine, t12 necropolis, t12? (next to t11 underground sea and torture chambers.
If ALL you have unlocked when running gorge is t12 necropolis. EVERY t12 drop will be necropolis. So you can 3 necroplis-upgrade with ease.
But if you have other t12's.. residence, plateau, shipyard, wasteland. suddenly your t12 drops are all split. And, each individually upgrading to, waterways, sulphur wastes, gorge, lighthouse, and the other new ones.
As it stands, the atlas seems to heavily encourage 4 man groups... each clears a quadrant path. They then share the t16 bosses, and any super high efficient map like gorge, as well as one tier below it, for the efficient upgrading as noted.
Map location and sextants is interesting for balance, not noted by most.
Poecraft Atlas of Worlds
notice Gorge is not near anything but shrine. So gorge can only get 2 sextants. gorge and shrine.
Waterways on the other hand. Bazaar, Waterways, palace, and dark forest. 4sextants.
Sulfur wastes, same deal. 4.
new t13 by plaza. plateau, plaza, ?, and coloseum. also 4.
So gorge might not be the "best" anymore. but, theres still a very real possibly one is. And the 4 person split, seems highly ideal.
Just found a reddit thread also talking about this. not 100% accurate, but they counted up what they thought would be sextant counts.
http://i.imgur.com/QCdHFKz.png