The 'mechanics' of the game are really the same (other than improvements made along the way). HTC keeps a finger on the pulse of it's player base for that very reason. This isn't a division of Microsoft. If players are quitting for reasons other than financial burden or death, they're probably not that hardcore. If they're quitting because of numbers they're admitting they are part of that problem.
Correct, the game mechanics are the same, if not better with the addition of the ground element it's how the player base uses those things.
I've not played for about two years now i reckon. For me it was mechanics of the game becoming less and less "fun". Sure i was a land grabber and the game was heading away from that, but the problem with making it harder to land grab was, instead of thinking smart about attacks, it just ended in MASS hordes which isnt fun.
Back in 2003-2008 a group of 5-10 of you could easily take a base or create a nice little battle before it fizzled out, but in 2012 it was 30 fighters 10 carpet bombers and 5 goons, and as soon as a few people upped everyone gave up.
If i wanted a quake style flight sim i would play IL2 or whatever it is these days, but i wanted a "war" simulator, something AH become less and less of.
Meh im not important anymore as i dont play it...
What changed? The player base. We all admit the game is the same, if not better with all the additions. The land grab became the ONLY thing for the majority of the players and so they have gone about and grabbed as many bases as quickly and easily as they could. They have searched out the best way to grab bases, and none of them involve fighting for them.
Up a large group, roll the base. If you capture it GREAT! if not, move off some place else and try again. While the minority chases them around try to get them to engage.
This gets the minority frustrated and they quit, and the majority get bored doing the same over and over so we lose more players faster than we bring in players. Add to that the "learning curve" and were do you see the game going?
You're looking too hard for arrogance in that statement, then. I've already mentioned that the graphics tweak some 'require' to play this game is in the works. I've suggested potential methods of commercial marketing (doesn't have to be TV ads - Minecraft has proven that). But the game is still currently sustainable and players taking the time to post in a forum about dwindling numbers that they liked the game won't play because of dwindling numbers (or 'game mechanics' or the graphics suddenly weren't good enough compared to other games,when it was just fine before) is .... ironic.
If this community want's Aces High around .... all THEY have to do .... is play.
Yes,we know Dale isn't immortal. We also know that this is more than a paycheck to him. He's part of this community too. He's hardcore. 
You quoted this part of Kazaa post...
"If the prophesied demise of Aces High is true... " and you said it was "Exaggeration" the comment has nothing to do with "helping" that is what I was posting to. Aces High will die...... some day. It's NOT an exaggeration.
Yes it would help if players "played" but if the game play has changed to the point that these people no longer like the game play why should they play? OverLag posted he liked playing war, but now that we have nothing but hordes it isn't fun any more. It's tough to play war when your being rolled by 30+ guys who don't fight.
So they stop playing..... and the numbers drop. Euro players look to log in and see 80 players. In an even split world that is less than 15 players fighting each other per front. Odds are more likely that 25+ guy hordes are avoiding each other trying to grab bases faster than the other hordes.... so they don't log in..... and the numbers drop.
