There have been merc groups that stay with a null sec alliance since I can remember, and I played the first 10 years. I’m not sure exactly when mercs stopped being paid for war decs in hi sec, but I’m sure there is a change in the game where it happened. What I do know, if a corp is going to pay the war dec fee and x amount on top of it… a merc corp is getting a win out of it, whether they just camp an area of get some actual action out of it. AND THAT is not going happen with the current way it’s setup. No matter your view on it… having a player corp and being safe from war decs makes no sense.