I'm a 30-something with a job, wife, and family. I have been playing muds all of my life, and CF is one of the best. When graphical games came out, I continued to play muds. I'm a dedicated mudder! CF's pk balance and world are top notch. That's why I have settled on it after 20 years of mudding. I have about 1 hour every other day to game. For the most part I dedicate that 1 hr to HoN because it's got the RPG feel without the dozens hours of investment before your first pvp encounter. I follow CF everyday through the forums, and occasionally run a character (maybe one a year).
FSV was my only motivation to play. There's just too damn much to learn. I don't have the time. I'm not an organized computer programmer who keeps notes. If I'm going to organize it's going to be for my real life, not a mud. FSV was finally a dropsite that we could collaboratively leave our notes and scripts without an evil overlord censoring / stealing / banning / controlling. When FSV went down, I realized something. Information is not gameplay. CF is just too damn nitpicky and detail intensive of a game for me. I want a game to log in, blast away, die, kill and have fun for about 45 minutes.
My suggestions for CF's survival? Make it more casual.
CF needs to be easier to level (without groups!)
CF needs less preps and more cooldowns. Replace ABS mechanic with the martial trance mechanic.
CF needs to take itself less seriously.. how about an OOC channel?
CF needs to be less exclusive.. Less cabals that are much easier to get in to.