All I want for Christmas is better base defense mechanics

Basically the surefire way to prevent your base from being leveled by trolls (aside from getting there in time to kite them away) is to

1. Build a moat
2. Build on an island
3. Build layered stone walls (time consuming / expensive)

All of those options basically nullify or utterly remove the threat of every other invasion, as well as trolls, however. So it's feast or famine.

Risk dozens of hours of work just so you can experience the raids the game has to offer or just cheese the AI with moats and now there's absolutely no threat from raids at all (especially if you build a roof for your piggies).

I'd just like to see a happy middle ground where some threat is still posed to our base but it doesn't just fall like a stack of cards when a troll starts swinging.

Just a Christmas suggestion, in the meantime happy moat building and stay cozy Vikings!