Depopulation is a double edged sword in any game, you change the game you lose the base happy with original, you don't change you begin to lose the maps getting 'old' crowd.
This is true, more so with maps for me. I could use the same two or three rifles but I get tired of playing the same maps.
I think this game was depopulated initially when it lost a lot of players who bought it but were disappointed when it didn't play quite like ROOST and didn't have vehicles. To me and others, that was the game's initial base.
So, yes, a double edge sword in some ways.