Yeah, most of the time in all 3 instances there are at prime times (which I don't know when they actually are) maybe around 20ish people inside..

And yet we still struggle with the big project because not all of these 20ish people are even participating..

Thinking back to Ishgard Restoration, there were always a lot of people..
It even has the same stuff to do (except the crafter/gatherer relic, that was not related to Ishgard Restoration itself) the only difference is that we don't have to grind the mats for the crafts..
But I guess some had different goals..
I mean.. You had the contest for most points on each crafter and you could get one or two special titles if you're doing well..
But to get into the top 10 and stay there, you really had to craft almost 24/7 until the period was done..

Now, you can get your hologram and your name on a leaderboard and stay there for two weeks..
Don't know if there is any other special price you can get..

Guess I'm just getting to old for that game and my high time in ffxiv ended with maybe ShB..
But I don't wanna quit either.. I'm playing for 10 years and it's hard to see how the game evolves right now..
And yet I can't stop playing (maybe being not so active anymore and turning more into a solo player) because I'm too curious with the MSQ..

I enjoyed most of the DT MSQ, yeah it isn't perfect and it took a while until it catched me..
But I think that's also a problem with how SE reveals stuff for the next Expansion..

Showing Artworks of Solution 9 and any stuff you see after MSQ lvl 95 is too much..
I rather see less and get taken by surprise than seeing artworks for everything before it's even there..