Core player base? Removing toys from the sandbox in order to trim the existing player base sounds like the worst . idea . ever . when it comes to the future of AH. Throw in an appropriate emoticon if you're shooting for sarcasm. 
If the so called new toys were a benefit to the player base as a whole...we'd see more people in the game. As it is now the numbers are shrinking, I mean a blind man can see that. The arena setting changed from 500 to 1,000.........why? we barely get over 200 in here at one time. Steam was a strategic move to get more players...it did, they saw, and left. So whats the next move? More dar? more icons? more stuff most of us didn't ask for? When you try and kill a certain aspect of the game....your still killing the game. This place is about 2 steps from a Code Blue. I asked this question about a month ago and still no answer, " How much ordnance does it take to sink a Battle Ship in this game?" It's a basic question you need to do a simple task........ yet no answer where to find the information....