The thing is though, the backing for "No" doesn't feel that strong to me. I recognize there is an argument to be made for it, but I genuinely think 6 is the best amount, and doesn't even cost resources, or at least more than they'd already do with all the other permutations of this game. That, and it does not stop anyone from playing with 4 or 3 or 1 person, but doesn't make mods the solution to one of the most talked about issues.
I don't understand your last sentence. If this is the final choice, mods are not only a solution, they are the only solution.
About Larian being vague I agree, it's not great. And I think that if they definitively said that 4 is the max people will be able to move on (maybe not cheerfully, but move on nonetheless
