there was competition between dukes, counts, and obviously kings. That also kept them in check, because a disgruntled village could go and request audience at a neighboring feudalist and inquire about joining. In the end, we are discussing sloops, schooners, canoes, longboats, galleys, rowboats. The answer is: it depends. They all work and can navigate waters. The problem is subversive fucks onboard who sabotage everything.
When the subversive fucks are all psychopaths we can put systems in place to eliminate that threat.
I don't think there is another solution than toss 'em overboard. In today's terms: Mars, or an asteroid. Let that be their promised land. There have been so many efforts to reform them. They have been given tools, machines, tractors, land, anything to make them productive parts of society. They just hawk the stuff and go back to weaseling and undermining.
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