I see where your coming from, and the idea certainly has merit, but I'm woefully bad at fully assessing an idea so I'll let others comment before I put in further input.

The only problem I have with it is that it would widen the gap between the big legions and small legions. Most of these smaller legion members are casual players. I find that when a game caters to the more dedicated players, those casual players drop out fairly quickly. Too much time is required? No thanks. I guess you could look at it as rewarding the more active players..

well as people start to move into level 8 bases and beyond why not just increase the max amounts of docking ports allowed on the base in general? make it like max number of docking ports is one for every base level 3+ ?

I would rather it be +3 to people to help more. Rank 5 and rank 6 bases not just rank 8. I would rather rank 8 bases have some thing to fill the space.. a new arty. making the umber of people per port will just help more. Just more helpful my way.

Also some thing new should be added for bases to fill rank 8's extra space.

true... hopefully we see some more new base arts for these upcoming holidays like the new cannons

I think you've got to cater for both. Just because this one idea is for more dedicated players doesn't mean they're going to start leaving because of it. Like you said they're casual players, meaning they don't care that much I assume about other legions.