YARG - Yet Another RAND Game [Isokron's Midgard wins!]

[WraithLord]

You have explained the cons and pros eloquently and put very convincing arguments against generators.
As for nations that rely on clamming I think if your nation's game strategy is clamming then something is clearly broken with your nation.
IMO generators should cost less but create gems that can't be transfered from the mage to lab (like a cursed item). This way they could only be used as IW intended them - for battle magiks.

I think tartarains are less of an issue than generators.