Every MMOG -- even EQ1 -- has a spike in population immediately after an expansion. This means nothing except that Blizzard is using every opportunity they can get to make announcements about popular WoW *still* is.

I would be interested in seeing WoW's population three months *after* WotLK goes live. That is the true test.

Sure Every MMOG has a spike in population immediately after an expansion... but there is no expansion out yet. Also this "Spike" is more them the complete subscriber base of LOTR or AoC or even Warhammer... (BTW we not hear any updated numbers of Warhammer or AoC for some time now.) We not even known how many real subscriber warhammer has like they are just getting close to the end of there free month.

Also this are WoW real subscribers with active accounts!! A good morp is make by the people playing it and WoW got that part down. All that people that quit this game include me what I really miss is my friends of WoW. Not the game, not the tired battlegrounds not the endless grinds. But the people I was doing it for all I really wanted was raid with the people of my guild that I did get to known and liked and some even loved. I did go to all that crap of group finding till pvp battleground just for get the join of playing with friends.

Ever time when I start a new MMO I feel alone and have this feeling "did that done" this feeling was real strong with Warhammer it kinda did feel like WoW but the friend level was missing there was not even a zone chat when I was playing and most players just pass me like I was some kind of poo on the floor. The grouping system did get me going for a few levels more but soon the grouping did look so computer toons no one never did say anything everyone was just doing there thing competing there quests I was level 20 got burned out and quit the game.

I still did not go back to WoW I think most of my friends already forget me but I got to say I did wish I seen what I really did like in WoW and what other morps lack