There's actually a good number of us oldtimers still around, but we mostly just quietly play the game with the few neutral players and clans.
Fair warning, there is a small group of people in this game who know it quite well, but don't want anyone else to play. They're usually the one who fill threads such as this with dire portents, or claims about bias when they're inevitably deleted/banned for their self-destructive attitudes.
All in all the game is shaking out after a really strong attempt at balance and bringing some challenge back into the game. Some love it, some hate it, but the game is still amazing and it's far, far larger than what you'd likely recall.