This is a great thread! with nice story twists and creative ideas.
I would like to share how I am taking this game in the last few years. Just to contribute with my point of view.
I started in 2012 and have regularly gone away and come back to the game. It is for me a nice way of enjoying the game while not burning it. To be honest, when I get too much into it I start to see "the matrix" and do not quiet like it because takes away the great thematic flavor.
When I became orphan of my initial MW community in Venezuela, I preached the word of MW in the new places where I lived since then (through Ambassador-like demos in gaming clubs in Spain and Kazakhstan) and there were always three to four persons who would buy the game and start playing it with me. It is only about engaging them and enjoying WITH them (coaching them and letting them win more often than not).
But I do not think that these small communities could get any bigger considering the competition of new game releases. I sincerely do not see much of a difference in this prospect if I would for example try to seduce them to engage in other LCGs that are not "the latest".
If I need some competitive MW, I immediately go to OCTGN to take off the rust and increase the learning curve yet again, playing against amazing strategists/tacticians that can be found there. This happens once a year, usually coinciding with Arcane Duels Open or other tourneys like it.
When I look at other (non-collectible) Card Games (i.e. LCGs) I observe that their life is very short (2-3 years). They tend to be seasonal too or just be swallowed by new releases. I saw how NetRunner community got crippled when Game of Thrones came in and later how GoT communities have almost disappeared when Legend of the five Rings took the spotlight. This happening with heavy support from the publishers and sometimes even killed by the very publishers (i.e. by issuing a second edition or publishing more LCGs than the gaming communities can absorb).
I take this game as a "niche" game. When I say "niche" I mean that it is kept alive more by the community rather than the publisher. With few persons that play it at any given time in a given place. When this game was in its prime after its release, a big community could count maximum 16-28 active players (please let me know if you knew bigger communities!).
In 2018 the situation is not looking any better in number of players, but what I enjoy is to have this online community and regular (yearly of biannually) meet ups in OCTGN.
These days I am also enjoying the Academy releases. Easier to find the time, simpler, but still MW in essence. I play it with my son and his friends; and recently in OCTGN, where there are some nice people always available when I need a more challenging foe.
My conclusion: as long as there is a meeting point for real life or virtual playing communities, this game will be enjoyable and alive. Thanks for AW for maintaining this forum and to all of you who are my virtual MW community!
Excuse me if I disappear for (needed) periods of time. But my returns would not be possible if it wasn't for some of you, Alpha players, who upkeep the community during the "winters". You know who you are...
Mage Warriors, I salute you!
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thanks for consideration! 
