I usually don't have a problem with "unquellable" cities, as long as the AI doesn't build all those damn farm upgrades first... considering that squalor is also capped I believe at 125%, it can ever get TOO bad, unless it's very very far away from your capitol. Peasent garrisons and a gov with decent influence. I just recently purchased RTW, but I've been playing it almost non-stop (RTW also being my first TW game), which will have to stop this coming tuesday when I get back up to college ^^, but I can see how the little naggling things can get to you at the end. Toward the end of many of my campaigns, I tend to become very reckless, and just not care about a few ( well ok many) of my provences and extra family members as all the nagging little details of managent begin to pile up, making a turn take... well just way too long.