Population decline since velious release?

[JayDee]

There was a surge in players before velious. Some people even going as far as forecasting a 3,000 sustainable population once the expansion debuted. What I have seen is actually the opposite. I understand it is saturday morning right now, but the population is at 550 which seems low.

None of my friends have played since the first couple days to my understanding. I personally find myself in a precarious position where I can't conceivable raid (at least with expectations of receiving anything in return), can't camp sought after items like beads, can't complete quests like bfg.

Again, my group has taken a small break from the game entirely so I could basing this on the limited information I have, but I do get the impression that people are less enamored with the way velious launched.