"...all that combined with the player feedback that I do obviously read (though I'm seriously questioning why I bother)..."

If you're not doing things for the enjoyment of the "playerbase", then what is the purpose?

CF is the players. The people logged on pretending to be a character or IMM are the only reasons CF exists.

I always thought that the IMMs saw themselves as Stewarts of this game. As in, you didn't create it, you probably weren't here for it's birth and (I hope) you don't want to be at the helm when it dies. So, your role is an important, but fleeting, one. And a responsibility to those that came before and those that will be here after you are gone.

Let's not lose sight of the big picture. Is there a big picture?