I would say Ashdod now, its a breeze to play and you will probably win your very 1st game (SP).
All other nations may disappoint afterwards thou...
I can't say I have really noticed the population eating negative effect but then I just played them with a E9 N8 and recruited Adon's and Zamzummites.
In the MP I am in a Adon after being severely horror marked got attacked by the doom horror, hunter of heros and went half a dozen rounds with him. He nearly killed him, reducing the hunter to 25hps before failing his MR check vs the soul slaying weapon. One more hit and he would have been a hero...
