On the note of these so called "returning players". From previous patches, it seems to me that players aren't returning just to beat up the patch and leave again. Rather it's active players being more active. From my observation (which I have absolutely no credible source) I feel that the rate of returning players from let's say, the introduction of NM's vs. the number of people creating new accounts to join us in the world is very noticeable.

My justification of this off the small sample size of the linkshell i'm in. I see more brand new players than I do vets returning, as well as young adventures when I'm leveling lower ranked jobs.