To answer, what does any of this have to do with anything, it is all speculation. Evidence comes in the form of participation during FSO and Special Events. I suggest the most appreciative of the bunch have found a more efficient use of their in game time.
What can HTC do? They have already added new options to game play that rolled out with AH3. Capture the flag, Steal the sheep, Match play, Mission Arenas, and a number of terrain additions like flak bases, battleships and small ground bases. The BOLD thing to do would be to dedicate one week day to alternative style play and use the time to expose player base to things like unlimited side switching, staged missions, and find ways to reward perks, rank or achievement based on cooperative style play.
I admit that my views are probably biased against the time consuming high altitude bomber intercept or the M3 resupply chain. To put that into perspective, the game was way more enjoyable for me when a base capture was almost guaranteed if the church was "down" and there were two teammates capping the field. Ever since that town was enlarged and base capture has become a checklist of to do items, I have found other ways to be entertained.