So, based on those points, I would have to say 'no' as the idea is currently presented although I do have to admit to the asthetic appeal of the proposal. Like many things in the game, things have changed and it's gotten 'bigger.' Are 16 chairs enough anymore? That's a personal player's choice and I think any proposal addressing those needs should take into account that basic issue: the changes of the needs of the players, not the the lesser aspects of it/them. I personally think any tavern upgrades should just be general such as increased seating overall. There are still plenty of uses for the silver such as attack boosts or even extra time for negotiating in the expedition. To discount the need for tavern silver from one player's perspective is a bit short-sighted, imho (as some responders here have brought up). I'm not sure that distinguishing between friends and guildies is the real crux of any perceived problem here but more to answer players' needs for more silver or even number of tavern visits they themselves might be able to make in a given 24-hour period. When players had fields of SoKs and the priority list for aiding was not what it is now. I do remember when it was a consideration. So the fact that someone may be in your guild and also on your friends list is really just a matter of player preference, and not really a game consideration anymore.

Build menu buildings that are used, are usually just production buildings there for fulfilling production quests in events or the DC, which doesn't require them to be motivated. Event/special buildings are higher on the aid priority list than build menu buildings and so get the necessary motivating close to, if not at, 100% of the time. None of them have as much as 100 in the friends list, and only one of them is in a guild with other players.who are apparently not that active. As well as in my lower era cities as well. I manage to do it in a fully developed FE city with a friends list well under 100, in a solo guild, without aiding neighbors.

With the vastly superior production from event/special buildings over standard build menu buildings, the issue of getting everything important motivated isn't (or shouldn't be) an issue in a well managed city. The game has moved on from the need for this. Click to expand.This should not be standard practice anymore.

Forge of empires tavern wait full time