Regardless of what I say or you say it is all hypothetical since we can only guess as to what would happen. I really don't think your arguments are very compelling at all to be honest.

I see no reason why, except for potentially a few old players who have friends that still play, why this change would draw players in. The people I know that use to play would without exception NOT return due to this change, they left because like for most people life changes and they no longer have the time or desire or both.

As for current players playing more, that doesn't help me for finding groups. If you have only 2 people of your perma on your still subtracting from the pool of players. Further you have not added players you just increased playing time, personally I doubt this would be a large increase or long lasting.

As for exploring, outside of hell (which I have not had the time for since around 2004), there few places that you'd need more then 3 people. And since one of the primary benefits of exploring is the loot there is a strong disincentive to bringing larger then minimum necessary. Your explore groups might be different, but a lot more people play this game then just yourself, to assume everyone would haul along everyone that can go or wants to go is silly.

And while you didn't mention it, but it has been mentioned in other threads on this topic...CF is not EVE or WoW. The game does not have the player base nor will it ever again to support large ooc groups while still providing a game playable by those without such networks.

Of course this is just my opinion, but I think this change would make the game less fun for some player of which I am one, and potentially decrease the player base as players such as myself find more enjoyable ways to spend our free time.