I only came back because my job allowed me alot of free time in front of a computer (I run a computer lab) and I can't install Neverwinter Nights 2 on these machines.
Ironically most of the players back in the day were kids in University computer labs, and most MUD's/MOO's/MUSH's started there as well. With the advent of instant messenger, VOIP and Second Life strip clubs the novelty of communicating with other people through a text based world has worn off. So you strictly have the powergamers left who are competing in an environment that wasn't originally made for competition. The playerbase will respect the guy who spent 6 hours getting a piece of equipment over the guy who spent 6 hours writing a corny bard note. Corny bards represent the foundation of this game which is all about interaction. Back then the whole MUD (80 players avg) pretty much interacted with each other, now you have certain groups that will only interact with each other (30 players avg?).
And didn't females use to play the game? Now it's one big nerd sausage fest. Not counting guys who play females and call you "hon". lol.