My thoughts are on the same line as the last suggestion; Sign Posts.
Gnomes just aren't getting the job done as sign posts for the "Resource Routes". If they are to continue to be used for that purpose Glitchen need to be able to control the amount of time the Gnome gives his speech; they just don't stay on long enough, in most cases, to read everything he's been taught to say. In addition the Gnomes would need to be able accept and display paragraphs to separate different topics; like where resources are, and what to do next. And if sign posts are adopted to replace Gnomes for the current intended purpose these options may need to be included in the sign post, as well.
Some sign post could be integrated into the already existing Sign Post or they could be individual and about the same size as the sign post we used to have for what we can do with our yard, before the "Rock" took over that task. Or they could be as big as Pig, Chicken, or Butterfly Sticks.
But rather than have them spew a message like the Gnomes perhaps the capability to just be able to mouse over the sign post to read the message rather than have it forced on you; once you've been on a route enough time you know where to go, in most cases. Sign Post would need to be able to accept text similar to the paper we get off Paper Trees, although it would not, in most cases, need to accept any more text than say and email message. And the ability to place sign posts anywhere in the yard to give addition information, as needed.
But if we can mouse over whatever is thought up by the imagination of the Giants that would be much, much better than being thrown up on by the Gnomes each and every time we get near one.
I'm not sure I need color coded signs, but I guess I could see a point to it.
If anyone else has any ideas along these lines I'd love to hear them; I think the Giants (aka Tiny Speck) would to. Thanks for listening.