How many people are REALLY still playing Maplestory?

it's not even a content issue it's an NX dependency issue. What you do is chores, not play a game.

holy pomegranate this is exactly what MapleStory is now.

That's why friend story became a thing recently and this is why Nexon is rushing to make more story related content than shoving out high leveled areas.....

because we're a minority, right?

haha do you realize what you are talking about.
they aren't focusing on the higher level content because they---get this-- can't keep people hooked long enough to get themselves to the higher level content because the lower level "story" crap is so terrible it's driving people away.