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This should take you to the start of a 3 video series on social difficulty curve. It feels like this is a place CF is succeeding less than in than in the past, and where the rules and mechanics that have gone into place over time have hurt, rather than help, the social aspects of CF. Everything from the ban on perma-groups to the mechanical advantages of solo-leveling for skill gains seem to work against playing the game socially for great benefit.

Clearly there are still advantages to putting together a Hell group, and it does happen, but why doesn't it happen more often? Why has Tiamat only been slain a couple? of times since the Dragon Lairs went in?

I think a way to start to address this would be an account system built into the game itself. Something where you could sign in and then select your character. Tie it to forum account. Allow for achievements. Allow for players to see other players on their "friend" list who are playing. Modifying the perma-group ban to account for being better able to track when these are unfair and unfun and tied to specific players, vs. when they are just people who enjoy playing together doing so, without negatively impacting the game for others. Give real incentives and achievements that are tied to your account. Obs/Exp XP could carry over between characters and be used for Obs/Exp edges or other quality of life improvements. There are lots of possibilities here, but who wouldn't want "Saw Satan" on their accounts achievement list?