Far as this being a sinking ship, what you all seem to forget is this business model has changed the MMO model. Every major pay to play system has adopted a free to play aspect game. Other games have come and gone with this free to play model, yet RoM keeps plugging along so this sinking ship stuff, while some truth, is nothing more than a distraction to the conversation.
RoM was not the first f2p game, just a fyi. Other games, more populated, original and sustainable games have adopted the f2p model because of how much revenue it generates vs just subscription based platforms. The availability for extra type items if anything, changed how mmo's operate, items not even essential for the actual playing of the game but merely for vanity sake.
As a whole the mmos that came out between 2006-2009/10 are feeling a steady decline in player base because for most RoM was a sidetrack or a "place to go" temporarily from other larger mmos. You could probably go to any other mmos forum and find a shinking ship thread.
It's not a distraction, as the conversation isn't really opened, and that being the game dying. Why would any of the mentors or a GM want to try to dispute that on the forums. They would get annihilated. They can see the population for peak time tonight and then look at it a year ago and a year before that. That is your sinking ship answer and closes the conversation, so yea we can try to distract all we want.
BTW when is the contract from GF to RW up?
oh and bye dio and the other 2, thanks for assuming the role you were given to you and the one you knew you were getting into when you applied, so I wont say thanks for putting up with us because....it was your job.