I joined around the time Rise of Isengard came out, when Arkenstone was the recommended server. I played LOTRO like crazy for a year, and it was great fun because when I got tired of questing or deeding I'd go to the Prancing Pony and fool around there. For about a year now it's been different. The Prancing Pony in Arkenstone is almost always dead, as well as the courtyard outside.
I don't follow too much on what changes they make to the game but it seems it's much easier to level up. I think the idea is for players to race through their levels and get to the endgame. With things like dailies there is lest time for people to just fool around.
I remember in November of 2012, I was getting a bit tired of this game, but a bunch of us were fooling around and role-playing in the Prancing Pony when we decided to invade the trollshaws and cause a bunch of havoc against the trolls there. That was probably the last time I had fun on this server. My character was around level 42 then and is still only on level 49 a year later.
I play more often on the Laurelin server these days, but the people there can be a bit weird. And I like all the costumes I have for my characters on Arkenstone so I can't leave it all behind (pass through different times, leave them all behind....)
There's no way to make everyone happy and still make a profit I guess. I'm certainly not one of the happy one's on Arkenstone any more, and it's been a while since I was.
There is no hope, and unsteady goes the boat, the captain's orders are queer, the minds of his followers dulling and drear.