DeletedUser7137
I agree with your points GrossEyeEh, except the fact its cheaper to produce your own than use the npc 10 for 1. 10 boosted = 8 hour run for 1 good vs me running non boosted for 2 in the same cost/time frame.
Is it cheaper when you have to build the building, which you will need the extra population for the building, and the extra space for the building when you only need a few of the goods fast? The merchants are there for desperate players who are, strangely, not in a guild or have no friends or neighbours to trade with. I have traded with the merchant when I first started to play, because waiting for your trade or looking for the trade in the market takes too long and I would lose FPs while waiting (those were the times when there were no GB to throw away your excess FP when you're stuck in the tech tree). So, in reality, even though the cost when trading with a merchant seems too high, it would be higher if you have to build the building for it on your own.