I can agree with mallos on some parts and i havent been on the island in a while, but if there was no change then it will still be somewhat accurate what i think, the biggest bifference for me is that back when i started i was bored so i looked for a game, the story was somewhat interesting, but the waiting part annyoed me so i quit again, until i was bored enough to come back because "there was that story that did sound somewhat interesting", the story kept me coming back long enough to actually make contact to other players, then i started to come back because it was fun to talk to the people.
while with the island the "nothing to do" part got removed and is at first more appealing to new players, the lack of online people to talk to or something actually interesting is what will not let them come back after a while
from the viewpoint of an ex guardian i can say that being on the island and trying to make people interact is just frustrating, my respects to those that still do that, thats not an easy job, i know from personal experience that even when you try to be there and available a lot you still manage to miss some people that might have had a chance at staying and considering the ultra low influx of people that is really bad, so not having a comunity there like it was on mainland does make a difference imo
the only solution i have to this is actually scrapping the shitty idea of shards being a special resource that were intnded as some sort of start currency and open up the island maybe make a "waiting scene" with a timer where you sit on a ferry for like 5 to 10 minutes or even make it only go every hour or so, to not make it that easy to get there, but i think it might make the island more lively and that might make the game more appealing or at least slow down its dying process