The exp and gil were never an incentive.

"oh hey, I want to level up let me go to ballista" "Oh hey, I want to make gil, le tme go to ballista!" I don't remember any days where that was an incentive.

It never stopped being fun, at least not to me, either.

As far as the penalty for gear swapping, I believe choosing a set in ballista is part of the strategy. I think gear swaps would take from the strategic point of the game. It'd just be full damage when attacking/nuking, and as soon as someone comes up to you or begins casting, full PDT or MDT.

The game itself is fun, and there is a good number of people who love the game, they're just spread out amongst the servers.

We just need more cross server ballista, and getting all of us together again, lol