I'm new compared to you lot but I do miss the players who helped and gave me items. I still have that L10 paralyzing shortsword and the WOP 1. They said I was stupid playing that silly toon but still helped. The most important was "you're a fvs, so stop tickling the enemy and start healing, when we tell you to!!!" .
I would bet many returning players give up very quickly because of all the changes esp equipment.

Can we have a guild chest that reverts btc and bta account items to the same as opening a chest is a quest? Put any item in and the person who takes it out then has it bta or btc.