I still think that this map has potential, but it's still one-sided in the gameplay (I'm not 100% sure on that, I'll have to play b8, but I did just run through it and I don't think that the layout changes will help).
Something I thought of, that might be interesting, is that instead of just "Cap the flag and be done with it" maybe you turn the gamemode into something like the Counter Strike Team system of playing X amount of rounds as Terrorists then flipping to Counter-Terrorists. The team with the most victories, win.
In this case, teams would be playing as for X numbers of rounds. The rounds are the same as before, cap the flag and win if you're blue, defend if red. After X number of rounds, teams change color. Blue becomes red and red becomes blue. Repeat the first part. The team who can have the highest amount of caps and defenses combined, wins. (So, we'll say that Team A is blue for 5 rounds. They cap the flag 3 of those rounds. Now, Team B is blue and they cap it all 5 times. Team A didn't defend at all, and Team B got 2 defenses. Team A has a score of 3, Team B has a score of 7. Team B wins because they have more points).
I think with a bit of tweeking, this would be a huge improvement on the gametype, while maintaining your original vision and keeping the general layout as it is now. It also has the potential (maybe?) to be a very competitive type of gametype, which would appeal to a fair more amount of people.
Something to consider.
EDIT: and adding a like a 20-30s set up timer would help a lot. I know you said you were against that, but I really don't think it'll hurt.
Something I thought of, that might be interesting, is that instead of just "Cap the flag and be done with it" maybe you turn the gamemode into something like the Counter Strike Team system of playing X amount of rounds as Terrorists then flipping to Counter-Terrorists. The team with the most victories, win.
In this case, teams would be playing as for X numbers of rounds. The rounds are the same as before, cap the flag and win if you're blue, defend if red. After X number of rounds, teams change color. Blue becomes red and red becomes blue. Repeat the first part. The team who can have the highest amount of caps and defenses combined, wins. (So, we'll say that Team A is blue for 5 rounds. They cap the flag 3 of those rounds. Now, Team B is blue and they cap it all 5 times. Team A didn't defend at all, and Team B got 2 defenses. Team A has a score of 3, Team B has a score of 7. Team B wins because they have more points).
I think with a bit of tweeking, this would be a huge improvement on the gametype, while maintaining your original vision and keeping the general layout as it is now. It also has the potential (maybe?) to be a very competitive type of gametype, which would appeal to a fair more amount of people.
Something to consider.
EDIT: and adding a like a 20-30s set up timer would help a lot. I know you said you were against that, but I really don't think it'll hurt.