If you look for real balance you look in the wrong game, while Nc don't lock the usage of auto targeting/assist/fight programs there is nothing to be called as balanced.
To put it simple and the way it turned to me, if you have friends and are those that make you keep playing deal with it, if not try to find other thing to do, L2 nothing have to do with the fun it was years ago, and it is their developers and community managers fault.
Maybe it change on GOD, but that is not L2 anymore, cross fingers for some company work on something able to replace L2 in full, but with enough will to keep it free from the current programs.
Daggers get detected and followed in hide mode, players smartly guess wherever you try to hide, you don't target any they take seconds if not minutes to get to you, you target one and you get full party on you and instant debuffed from a lot of different classes and names.
Some still say they are free from those but the reality is they can't do anything without help from those who keep using it, there is not much to choose from, one faction as 60% of the server helping or supporting them, 35% are other factions that instead of stay together are divided and thats their weakness, the other 5% are pve clans or old mules like me who keep playing the game mostly on the same way I started years ago.
Stand alone
Maestro - MayaTS
As you can see there is not 50/50.
But that is not so visible at server.
Somehow X side is able to assign much efficient cooperation across server.
As result even if main force of SH is stronger being almost 'isolated island' they every 2 weeks struggle really badly to keep wards/castle.
I would say Naia is very well balanced server.
Every siege keep around 150+ from any side and each castle.
Due to good balance, various not "top clans" (so called non-factor) have place and have opportunity to fight for castle.
It not means small clan with 20 ppl can take castle - oh no!
I mean clans with 60-120 ppl, organized with allies or building some cooperation each other can do it.
Not going to put any names to not start flames, but at least we have 6 strong allies being in-depended (in some way*) from X/SH and trying every month to grab some of glory
(*) Mostly those clans/allies do not cooperate each at exp/raids. Those pacts are assign only at sieges time when you can find very peculiar alliances
I just wish someone would give me an answer who actually enjoys playing the game. We all know about NCSoft and the bad parts of the game that won't go away, but the fact is I'm playing the game and everyone should make the best of what we have.