1st: english is not my main so pls don't be so rush with me.

Most ppl I know that left the game and not coming back are not for abyssea, it is cuz the game got old and there are many games now to play even if is only for few months. I loved abyssea not for the lore but for: the quick exp, no more 6ppl pt, you can play for 2h and get something worth in game. My friends and I got old with the game, most of we have our families now, jobs, etc and the long nights doing parties and HNM camp where replaced for babycaring and nightshifts at work. I like to believe that SE thought about us and created abyssea, I loved to went back and meet again lots of friends coming back. Dunno about populations and % but I am sure I saw alot of ppl in game, mainly cuz server merge but it is not abyssea fault, I was thinking long before abyssea when will SE will merge them.

About what I will like to see in FFXIV from FFXI? I like the upgrading armor/weapon system it has (yes I am talking about relic, nyzul, salvage, abyssea equip).