well imo it depends on what kind of end contents implemented from now.
PvP ,PvE , if that's all , this game can die..
i know you are assuming that PL'ing killing the game.
but if end content had enjoyable thing like months?
i know rank 1-40 needs more fan , but if end contents had something to hold more players ,
PL'ing couldn't be so problem.
i mean , we get bored in end content , in 1 month , that way sounds like more bigger problems than PL'ing itself..i think