True, we do not have access to the data HTC has. I have never, nor have others who are against arena caps, claim to have the same data. The data we use is our own experience.... We do not like it. I have read up on damn near every post on the subject and still think a few basic truths are being ignored.
1) That arena caps were the sole reason for business growth at that time is absurd! Other companies (competition) were folding or loosing customer share after not being able to deliver on promised hype. There was and still is little choice. And taking the position that it worked then so it can't be valid now is absurd. To many things have changed since then to be even remotely the same. I also agree in earlier statements that "the herd" mentality is why the caps were put into place. While I do not want the extreme that no cap conditions created (800 in one arena and 0 in the other), I find it simply absurd that so many in here and at HTC fight so hard against a fantastic piece of consumer desire. Call it a "herd mentality" if you wish, I would call it a strategic business objective and tap into it!. I wish there not be a forced split when an arena size is at or less than 250-300. We play all day long in arenas full with 300, or more, so if the "arena caps grew business" logic is true, people find those arena sizes fine now. So why at 2200 hours does HTC and those of you sleeping care if the 187 LW players are in the same arena then? If that is a problem, then larger splits should be in place during the day requiring a third arena or even fourth.
Solution: Never split arenas until total population equals or is greater than 250.
2) There are also many posts in this BB from European players complaining about how frustrating caps are for them (my only data). The posts go on to describe the declining Euro contingent and discussions on marketing to improve those numbers. Can HTC support or confirm these assertions from players? I have a theory as to why this might be happening if this in fact is the case 
I did love the suggestion from here that the European players themselves make more friends and start recruiting
3) Besides people taking the time here to give their reasons for quiting, what else does HTC's do to learn why people end subscriptions? Email surveys, a phone call? I understand that it is very hard to get people to always take the time to answers those questions, but the answers are so valuable to a company with 100% commitment to their customers.
4) That people who do not like an aspect of the game and comment on it care less about the game than they do. In some cases I'm sure this is true, but not in mine. Being called "you people" and being told in not so many words to, "deal with it the way I want you to deal with it", are not constructive at all. In fact, those tones sound eerily similar to a few folks I have come in contact with in real life I call bigots (not calling you one Slapshot). I'll hazard a guess that a few people in here do not know how well that shoe fits them.
For the record, I love the game, but will not just accept things I think detract from the experience on my end.
Well ... I will never argue a "business decision" as explained by HiTech and/or Pyro ... they know better than any of us and this is how they pay their bills so decisions such as this are not willy nilly . Split arenas are here to stay ... will the implementation stay was we see it now ... I don't think so.
I do feel for the Euro players, and as you can see, from the HiTech quote, there is an active discussion, started by Lusche, proposing a change that would help with the Euro plight. I have read that whole thread and I believe that we will see some sort of change in the near future on that front.
