i like your idea and agree with you presumptions
only one problem, witchhunter
who is a vet?
can't go by greposcore as you get points for everything these days
wouldn't go by crowns cuz many play for kills instead
number of servers? some are on every server for gold but don't play. and do you only count EN servers?
do you go by those predating 2.0, the alarm (or mobile altogether), intro of heroes, or other "game changers"?
just something to consider
i think something simple like
Played in 3 or more worlds. Been in top 50 ABP or DBP or combined for at least 1 month in any World Or Been in top 10 in any ocean for at least one Month or top 50 in any world for at least one month.
No alarm ..
I don't believe INNO don't care about their customer base - I imagine they simply believe the current status is the least worst for their income.
The question is will they try something else? They don't have to and wont unless they can see that a committed core of 2000 ish players paying £15 month is money worth having.
Each world could be limited to 1 year Alliance Cap 25 speed 3 NO MORALE No stupid Wonders.
If every player contracted to play the year and pay their £180 albeit monthly that is an annual £360k revenue stream from that one world. repeat that across the foreign servers - it is a lot better than a smack in the face wiith a wet fish for INNO.
I know personally at least 100 ex players who would go for something along these lines.
And the crazy thing is it would do nothing to diminish the new intake for the current.
Just think of it like pay as you go or mobile telephone contract.
I would sign up for just about any version that allowed skill judgement and courage to take risks to be factors once more.