Why is this difference important?

1. When asking Supercell whether inactive bases are removed, they'll answer no. If part of your complaint involves "collector bases are removed", they'll just dismiss you as being misinformed and ignore your complaint. On the other hand, if you ask them why collector bases are much rarer, they won't be able to dodge the question as easily (note: tech support lacks the intellect to tell the difference, so don't bother). By telling them collector bases are so infrequent as to cause the economy to worsen, they'll know that people are upset on a legitimate claim.

2. That inactive bases are much more infrequent may NOT be working as designed. Supercell may NOT have anticipated this outcome either due to laziness or lack of foresight. If you tell them collector bases are removed, they won't know what is wrong with the update because they have not done so. They will merely be irritated yet another complainer believed some rumor. If you ask them why collector are reduced in matchmaking, they KNOW there is a problem if they haven't intended for this behavior.

3. That collector bases still exist, but significantly rarer, is important for people to know. If you go around telling people inactive bases are totally removed, people will resort to attacking less juicy bases since they think they can't find fat bases. If you tell them they are merely reduced, it will motivate them to next much more. By telling people collector bases are removed, you're indirectly harming their farming by denying them the knowledge that nexting much more will yield better bases.

Finally, this is a base I found post-update: http://puu.sh/m6RUm.jpg Dead bases EXIST.

PS: Next MUCH more than before. I find myself resorting to nexting 10 minutes sometimes now. This is NOT good game design, but by telling people dead bases are gone, they won't even have the opportunity to find good bases.