I've been on CS since 2008. I have spent hundreds of dollars on C$, and I have traded a lot of C$ for valuable pets.
There is absolutely no situation that would make me value CS pets more then actual C$, and literally no situation where I would rather someone go into C$ debt then risk them having an "unfair advantage" in the form of some additional pets.
How are the effected people considered a minority(as in, there being a small group impacted) while also apparently being enough of a majority that setting their balance to zero while keeping their pets could impact the economy enough that staff won't do it? I'm sorry, but I can't wrap my head around this logic.
Maybe there is no solution that's fair to everyone. In that case, let it be unfair to the people who aren't in financial chickensmoothie debt. Given how many people have shown their support in this thread, it's clear the active majority agrees. I would gladly let a few dozen people be 2000 C$ richer in pets then have those same people be 1000 C$ in debt.
And, again, this is from someone who has been an active part of CS since it was founded, and had spent hundreds of dollars on the site.