The Colonies is too slow and players tend to shun away from it. Because even at minimum playing rates a person should be able to log on at least once per 20 hours for 10 minutes or something like that. I personally think that the Colonies are there to punish naughty infiltrators like my characters who can't seem to stop stabbing others. But that aside, the slow pace there often compensates itself by having a hell lot of power struggles, political backstabbing, and OOC Clans tend to favor the Colonies as well.
Everyone who hasn't been to the Colonies should at least try sending one character there
