So, I've done something I didn't initially wanted to do. Re-installed the game to finish some more NCPD Events. Just to have an excuse to drive around NC while listening to Artemis Delta.
And man... it just doesn't work with V coughing and glitching constantly. Just makes me feel bad again.
Also, the rapid drop in players isn't really surprising. I am assuming quite a few will want to wait for patches in the hopes of things getting better. Others have the same problem we do, considering on gog almost 90% have chosen the Arasaka ending. Which is just as unsatisfying as the rest (But I am biased, I consider it the 2nd worst, but that's just me personally).
Why would people come back? Well... I don't have an answer for that. Certainly not for MP alone though.
Limbo 'tis what we get.