May be there is a simple anti-lag solution?
Tweak merc's AI in this way:
Disable merc's auto-fire when new target is arrived UNTILL THIS TARGET WILL DO ANYTHING. I mean mercs (even aggressive ones) don't shoot automatically UNLESS YOU SHOOT OR MOVE.
Attack via Alt menu should be still available.
If implemented, there will be no bug "freeze on load because I got damage from merc while loading"
Removing muties is not a fix of anything. O'k no muties - next time I'll buy rocket bitches. They can run, they'll do the job. I will care even less of losing them, as caps no longer my concern. If somebody has no loads of caps - combat slaves.
Mercs btw is adding some balance to game. What can I do alone against a group of 4-5 no-lifer kids with voice chat and everything?
Now I can smash them with 6 rockets at time. Disabling mercs ? Bad idea - remove features like this from game. TLA or Requiem don't have mercs. Why don't go there?

Voila i doubt the merc trollers would really spend the 4-5 weeks to get a few mercs to a decent level to be able to troll with them.
Even now merc commander with 5 muties risked a lot - 85kx5 investment, at least 2 days of leveling up, ammo and guns to level up. And can be lost in 1 fight (especially TB encounter). 4-5 weeks? 21 lvl char require 1-4 days to get level cap. Bad, bad idea