I've been consistently saying as well since the word got out that the new version was getting closer that a lot of old school guys would come out of the woodwork. Many have started sniffing around the forum again, and made more than a few comments about coming back to check out what the new version will bring. I'm hoping that these players as well as some new blood that can easily be outright stolen from the "competition", I use that word loosely, over at WT, that there is real hope to get things back to where they were numbers wise a few years back when the arenas were actually split over large numbers (and other reasons I suppose as well).
A lot of the complaints, legitimate and otherwise, will become less important, their effects not as encroaching on the "fun" factor when there is tons of targets and fights all over the place due to 5 and 600 player nights. This is what I most look forward to, having consistent large numbers and many good fights, missions, whatever floats your boat, to pick from the instant you enter the arena. All the new terrain/graphics/and the like will actually be a welcome secondary bonus for me.
Let's hope the alpha testing goes well, and that open beta will be upon us prior to the xmas holidays this year, it'd be a great present for everyone, and give us something to do other than the yearly watching of "Jaws" and "Star Wars" during the xmas break.