I was discouraged at first when I first considered playing again, but on a freeshard. I ended up giving my accounts away and when I came back the person who I gave them to just sold them off. I'm glad I did though because I've had more fun on free shards then I ever did on EA. So I think if people still have any interest in actually playing UO then they just might come to a freeshard. Where do you think freeshards get thier player base? EA shards. (and random turkish guys who wander in, don't ask me why they are from Turkey)
Anyway, that's just my look on things. I only had about 3 years of crap and time invested, so 10 years might be a different story.