I hesitate to say this, but I'm only about two months journey from the
IC, see few travellers, and no conflict. Been there a while, too.
I don't believe all the claims of crowding. (Although I do see that
there _has_ been a bunch of stuff going on... I'm in kind of an
information backwater/vaccuum)
Anyhow, I can think of at least 3 different ways for new players to
establish themselves in the area near me. The overcrowding may be
as much perception as actuality.
Tom