A few friends and I stopped playing 2 months ago, and many more friends we started with haven't played since like November. I think the latter will not come back unless FFXIV becomes awesome. The few friends who left "recently" might come back if 1.18 delivers. If not, well they'll keep waiting and so will I, it's not like we're forced to play. But right now I'd rather sit with a stick in my garden than play FFXIV >.>