The fact that endgame is built on having eight-person statics -- AND ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE, no more or less -- is really what's suffocating endgame.

The average gamer is 35 years old and has a slew of adult responsibilities that take priority over video games. Many of us were hardcore players back in XI, but we simply can't keep that up. I definitely spend enough time in the game each week to satisfy a static's hours, but what I don't have (and what others don't have) is the predictability in our schedules to block off two or three nights/week for a video game.

This game needs some kind of dynamis-like content that isn't dependent on having EXACTLY EIGHT PEOPLE or memorizing a complex script of insta-death jumprope mechanics. The Diadem was on the right track, but obviously it fell totally short.

These rigid "eight-man only" systems are also stunting the growth of FCs and the game's social vibe, but that's another convo.