I can't speak in terms of the math involved, I can only attest to the reality of this. I am in the very last tech of 18. I am facing enemies of massive proportion before I even get to the 20th fight in maybe the 4th or 5th round. Something like around 20k of my troops against 38k enemies. By the time the tournament is finished I'm in single digits of troops, some are at zero.
In my big city in Winyandor we've finished 10 chests, usually on a Friday, ever since I filled the membership. I am just about NEVER the point leader, it's always someone below me. I overdid it with diamond expansions, I had no warning that it would cripple me, but it won't happen again.
I'm researching both of the Chapter 18 AW's, but now have to decide which ones to remove to put them in. Absurd! All of these punishments for the big cities make no sense whatsoever to me. I have ONE Phoenix. I have always had ONE Phoenix.
I'm not sure what it would take to get me to open Chapter 19. The last three rows of 18 about did me in. And I don't know who to punish by giving my KP to, for their AW's. I checked some of the largest cities and they are doing exactly the same thing I am. They're filling their AW's with KP then letting them sit, not upgrading them.
This is a sorry state we're in, to be punished for what we should be rewarded for doing.