Just an outsider's opinion
When there's only one GB from an age, I expect something good. I waited a whole year for a new exciting GB. I want something worth building.
This flying Island really doesn't fit the way this game is being played lately. Everything these days is about GBG, high attack boost, fighting, etc. I hoped this GB would have something to do with fighting (especially since last year's Space Carrier wasnt a fighter GB even though its good). This flying island feels just really out of place. The fact that it doesn't change a fighter's gameplay is already going to make it unpopular, but then there's the other three issues I see:
1: These shards are in the settlement but don't interact with it. It feels weird to put these shards in my settlement when they do nothing to help my settlement. Not only that, but settlements aren't universally done by everyone. Plenty of people have their buildings leveled up and don't want to do them anymore or are like me and dont want the hassle of doing them. Inno is releasing new settlements, but theyre not really what people are crazy about these days. With so much to do in GbG, why babysit a settlement?
2: The prizes aren't outstanding. For such an expensive GB to build and level, I'd expect the best of the best prizes. Instead, we have prizes that are no better than a ToR with less attempts. And ToR prizes are not as good as the newer HC and SC. So these prizes feel like a major step back.
3: It's just a recycled ToR meets settlements meets incidents instead of something new. There were plenty of better new ideas that would be better. Don't act like theres a shortage because theyre everywhere on this forum and the others. I havent looked thru all of the GB suggestions people have made, but Im pretty sure noone said a nerfed ToR for your settlements.
So in conclusion, please just listen to the players and don't do this again next year.