As a new player, I really don't want jump potions.

[Jandor]

Attracting new players without it, and forcing them to slog through dozens/hundreds of quests is daunting enough to turn away new subs.
Some existing players will quit because they feel betrayed for their loyalty, view jump players as somehow lesser, or for whatever reason.
# quitters < # new subs = jump potion good for SE (and I can't see this not happening).

How they decide to spin it to appease the current player base is up to them. It's a business. Let's not forget that.

The "slog" doesn't seem to be turning away new players. The game is impressively busy considering it's months since we had any new content, leafs running around everywhere, new worlds being created to ease overcrowding.

Things are going well all things considered.