Well, i agree with OP. I myself got my playing time dropping alot since 1.18...nowadays i barelly play anymore. I'm mainly waiting 1.20 and hoping it's not nearly as bad as i'm expecting it to be before deciding about quitting it for good or now.

IMO the fee never really was the main issue here...everyone playing knew it would be paid sooner or later...but when a game keep losing population while free still then there really is something wrong.

When i look at patch notes meant to be for january of 2011 (released like 2 weeks before Yoshida taking over) and i see most we are STILL asking listed there i really get upset. If people let the game follow it's natural patch maybe we would be talking about the first expansion now...