yeah I played with some friends at "launch" we had fun but didn't play that long. game had no content really. I still follow development but am a bit disapointed don't think they've really made much progress. they actually added directional attacking and blocking but from what I see in videos it still doesn't look very good. I reckon xsyon is better than H&H tho.
theres some things about H&H I really hated, like how you had to grind your ass off and to buy skills which allow you to actually play the game, ie pvp. it goes against the whole point of a sandbox for me you should be relatively free not have artifical restrictions, in some ways H&H is more restrictive than themepark games. they did improve exp system alot when I re-tried the game recently, ie you study stuff instead of repeating same actions to get exp.
Im looking forward to playing salem, I know some of my guildies will play it. but I don't dig the visual style or the combat system. and I don't think it will that different to H&H, from what I've seen its 90% identicle.