I do some what agree with Sureal on this one, the old endgame camping did keep alot of people busy. If people are quiting the game becuse there is a lack of interest, then the only solusion would be for SE to add more contant. This is what there doing is it not? If your friends like the game, but find nothing it lacking promise because they cant camp an HNM for 20+ hours at a time then they have way to much time on there hands, or can't find much in the game to do. Then again there where problems with this..... The person that works 30-50hours a week at work would find it hard to advance to better gear on a game they played. Just remember we also pay for the game, why should we be stuck not getting gear, just because we have "real" over "online" responsabilities. Making obligations on a video game that can cause problems in real life is not being responsable.....
Also, there are still HNM's only the 3 old kings are popable. SE doing this didn't really do much, a majority of people that where camping these HNM's already had there gear. Most LS's where just killing the HNM's to finish 1-2 items people wanted and to keep the HNM away from the other LS's.
Finally, yes botting was a horrid issue, and with PS2 being the laggest pile in the world im sure your Sureals friend only got claim when peaople where asleep. I played on PS2 for 2yrs, and I pitty anyone stilll haveing to play on that ><