First, you're not sorry for being negative. You revel in being negative. Don't try to pansy-ass your way out in the final paragraph. Own your negativity.

Second, which MMOs are you thinking of that will be gaining ground over Turbine? WoW? Already ahead. Eve? Different market. AoC? Different market. Warhammer? Nearly dead. Allods Online? Free, so who cares. Alganon? Joke. Champions/CoH? Different market. Fallen Earth? Different market. DDO? Whoops, who cares.

Despite all the crying of "same game" for every single MMO that comes out, I've just listed quite a few games that all appeal to very different segments of the market. You act as though you aren't aware of the LOTRO community being made up of a great number of players that stamp themselves [LOTRO ONLY!]. In many cases, not only is LOTRO their only MMO, it's their only video game, period.

I'm sorry you're not happy about Siege of Mirkwood but keep the doomsaying to a minimum cause it only makes you look silly down the road. Remember, Warhammer and Age of Conan were going to ass rape LOTRO. That hasn't exactly happened has it?