Yes, it's detrimental to just let old cartels fade away. That's one of the big things to some of us who are more interested in RP - designs. Everyone can, everyone has access to a whole bunch of designs, even more if you're lucky enough to be in a good cartel. It's sad to lose a bunch of old designs because someone doesn't play anymore, especially if they don't want them to be lost.

I wish we could get an admin noncommittal murmur about this.

Unless/until something like this would be implemented, about the best idea I'd have at the present would be for cartel owners to send themselves a message stating that they'd like the cartel (be specific) to be transferred to PersonX if they go inactive for # days, and let PersonX know about it. Question is, whether the admins would be inclined to do anything about that statement-of-intent/request.

Or, a bit more certain but less flexible, clan-cartel owners can create a position that can induct and has delegation and pop some people in it, who'd be able to invite new people and add them to that position so the cartel could continue with access at least to all the old designs if not the ability to submit new ones. Though that does mean someone with a private cartel can't be the exclusive producer of those items.