I agree with the OP and most of what everyone else has said about that.
So far as it goes, can anyone say when the last time HTC adjusted a major strat or rule function of the game? I'd like to see a list of the last 3 if anyone has that info.
The point is, despite what players say about things, flaws pointed out, changes requested - it very rarely happens. What happens instead is when something like this comes up, where a number of players all agree, a trend forms. Then HTC spars with players on the BBS. Then suspensions and PNGs happen when players continue to press their opinion. Then the player base shrinks a fraction more.
This is the only game of it's kind out there. Warbirds, Fighter Ace, AW - all gone, or might as well be gone. Should the numbers not have been constantly increasing, not decreasing? There are other games that cost a similar (exact) price with hundreds of thousands of players and subscribers, that aren't as old as this game, nor do they exist in an environment with no real competition. So, what are the reasons the numbers are where they are at?
Of course, by Monday, this post will be #whatever'd, like most of the things HTC doesn't like to hear, but break no official rules. The buck starts and stops with HTC - they are the only ones that can make changes, yet no changes have been forthcoming as the slide has continued over the last number of years. What other options are there when your player base falls to half of what it was? Change, or don't change. But when "don't change" is the choice, blaming your customers and "their attitude" for the results is absolutely ridiculous.
