It definitely is not anywhere close to what it used to be. I've been around since Maple's beginning, essentially right after Beta version, and the one thing that always kept people playing MapleStory was its sense of community. There used to be a huge community of players and friends in this game. I mean, essentially most maps in the game had at least a good 3-4 people on them. And people used to train only in one part of a map, while another person trained in another. And to just think about the events where the GM's would actually show up to Lith Harbor or wherever and it would just be completely filled with tons of players.
Now though, the community is nearly gone, or not anywhere near what it used to be. So in a sense...the game has died, but it is also evolving and changing to fit the mold of the demands and requests of the players and the time we are in today. So it is what it is, just like anything else.
What always kept me coming back to MS was the sense of community...there was always a nostalgia about Maple.
1. Merge some worlds
2. Make more training spots so if there is too many people in 1 world at least it won't get too crowded in popular training spots
3. Starforce was a good change but make it easier for noobs to make money, Gollux is a one time buy, Commerci is slow as balls.
Only way to make below average money is to scrounge around for elites like a dog