Let me break it down from my perspective Enver.
I'm a lvl 34 Horse Archer, got another 95 mil to lvl 35 which I will probably never achieve. I don't play strat, don't play Siege so I'm basically stuck on EU1.
Now what is my motivation exactly? I've been playing this for 4 years on and off, played all builds and classes, stuck with this for the past year because it's the least rage enducing, I still level my alt that is either a polearmer or a 2h, I log on and I know most of the players on the server and they know me, we have fun and giggles I share a few free hugz end of the round, mostly get brutally murdered while dismounting or running towards the enemy with my arms spread wide open in a sign of love. Also I found some players not responding to my arrows of love accordigly, they curse me istead of embracing the love, but I forgive them.
tbh these guys are probably the only thing why I come back, what ever you think of this community I find it great and like most of the people here.
What else? Sure isn't the balance, perma night and rain, doubtful maps to say the least and numerous other issues I will not even get into, I don't have the time or the will to grind any more because I got all the looms I need, I can only play like a mad man for the next year to get to lvl 35 and put one point in IF (oh the joy!) and by doing that spending a milion (literally) on upkeep. It just turned into more same old same old over time. Also if I still played shieldless melee exclusively I'd be long gone.
Hope this explains a bit why I turned from 4-5-6 and more hrs a day guy to a mere casual.
Love, Prpavi