My guild [80 friends] manages all GQ within two days - or we kick a couple if we need - we rarely have to do this.
As for the nonsense about weapons, build your weapon chains - clearly all friends will need them and the quests to produce from them are level appropriate.
We help out friends with weapons - we don't expect them to be run at low upgrade levels - but a L48 player aught to be able to produce carriages etc...
Overall, the changes are positive for forging self reliance of friends - Well done BB