1) Why do you want to lower the group size max? I'm not sure what this has to do with bots... meanwhile for people that arent on at 7am complaining there are no groups... there are some of us who during high activity periods can't get all the humans in 1 group which leaves 3 or 4 stragglers (hey it looks like 7am again) without a group... maybe they will bot now that they are kicked out of group?
2) PVP/time to react - cut all pvp damage by half. Give more classes takedowns, or nerf bash. Why bash got such a huge boost this wipe I'm still confused about... punch/bash combo and you're worried about being able to react? Add positions besides sitting sleeping and standing that will mitigate takedowns... Allow moving between them in battle for 'reaction' tactics... can go from sitting to kneeling, still be able to hit/cast if lucky. Other classes should be getting some sort of takedown/lag/impair skill, trip for example
Standing - easiest to bash, takes least damage
kneel - 1/2 bash, 1/2 damage
sitting nobash, full damage
3) Literally, slow it down? Run pvp at half pulse speed of normal combat?