I dont feel like welfare is at all the problem. If someone is going to be a welfare player, let them be a welfare player.
I feel like a lot of the problem comes from keeping members who join. Just these past weeks, It's been a while since we've received an update in the VHLM, and you can tell activity slowed significantly around the VHLM from it. I myself write a weekly MS in which it is IMPERATIVE that the league be updated for, and I now may go 2 weeks without doing a MS as I've been waiting for the updates to happen. It may be coincidence, but we also lost a newly rejoined (if I remember correctly) member in @Green during the time where there haven't been updates.
I would propose not being harder on the players trying to gain TPE, but on the higher up positions who run the league. It may sound like i'm honing in on the updaters, but this is just coming to mind, so I'm gonna run with this thought process and use them as an example. I think that the commissioners, the BOG, who ever it may be, should run a balance against the Job positions which claim TPE. Why are they allowed to Claim TPE for not fulfilling their job? I feel as though, unless updates are made during the week in question, the updater should not be allowed to claim the TPE.
This will hold the tops of the league to a higher standard, make things run smoother, and show newer members that we care.
I know some people immediately get turned off when another league is mentioned, but I'm a casual welfare guy over at the EFL, and they are TIGHT on their updating, they have a couple mishaps with simming and roster moves, but they move quickly to fix the problems, and it shows. I know It's a new league and that brings other things with it, but you get a sense that the league is in good hands when you can see issues being handled from the top down and it promotes people to do their work because they know they will be rewarded for it.
Increased activity comes from the top down. Not the other way around.