I think the game grew significantly with EW for various reasons (culmination of the end of a 9 year story, some WOW backlash and people flooding to XIV to spite wow or just following Asmongold), but has since naturally dropped a bit given we are in the lull between expansions and stabilized.

The stabilization at least financially is still ahead of all the prior expansions, but of course as more people grow bored and discontent with some major decisions - such as the Relic grind and focusing on things like Island, all eyes will be on 7.0 to see how long it stays successful. I'm hopeful but I can understand why some are ambivalent.