Been back (to the moors) since last August...my observations...(r8 warg, r8 defiler, r5 weaver)
Since latest update...(My) Creeps are much more robust vs. NPCs.
Hunters' fire? bleed, Burg cunning attack bleed and whatever the fire RK does, can still one-shot or close to one-shot most creeps.
There are strategies to deal with individuals, but usually a decent group of freeps is (still) OP even inside creep keeps (including DG).
At the moment I am grinding infamy (90% from questing) since higher ranked creeps (that I see) can get along better. R0-R6 creeps are mostly fodder for even low level freeps. Taking 6 months to rank to level 9 is daunting....I suppose if there were more freep/creep battles the infamy would be easier.
However freep activity is not exactly overwhelming. Not rare but usually if I run into freeps (especially solo) I tend to run away....
A small fellowship v small fellowship can be good but I have been in many encounters where 2 creep v 1 freep is even a mismatch for the creeps.
Kinships: Fifth Star Vagabonds on Crickhollow (Dotswith); Random Access on Arkenstone (Dottiel)