I agree with the points stated Matt. The stronghold feels a little lifeless even after completed upgrades, visitors, and a fully recruited hireling party. I was hoping for a bustling domain, filled with training soldiers, researchers at the library, a cook (and possibly servants) in your home, dignitaries from all corners of the world at your hospitality, soldiers/guards in ranks training etc. Something similar but not as detailed and grand as suikoden 2's castle dynamics.
Instead we see small number of guards scattered around various fixtures such as an empty chapel (save for the priest), the forum, training grounds, maze etc. Even the barracks is completely devoid of life (no sleeping guards).
What I'd like to see would be a forum with seated spectators watching a single lecturer, or a performing theatre troupe (maybe something similar to copperlane's ampitheater), visiting nobles and ladies in the main castle, researchers at the library that could provide small hints to certain quests in play, locals and internationals of various peregnations, a cook! etc.
Overall, more NPCS would make the stronghold seem more like a nexus of trade and security as I imagined it to be. At the moment when I return from adventuring, it feels more like an empty oversized house.