If he agreed that the community was dead, would that encourage you to play more often? People attract people, so naturally most people will be attracted to a more lively community. To bring out the positive view will suppress the negatives and potentially increase positive activity. So yeah, it makes more sense to argue against.

Quite honestly, twilit link, your entire post was shot directly at Thallen. Not even the idea he presented, just him and what he's done. What do you think about the idea discussed in the OP? Do you agree or disagree, and why? How can we move forward with this idea if it is ready to take the next step? If you have a personal thing against Thallen and have a legitimate reason to speak out against his general ideas for the game, open a thread about it and discuss the topic there. We'd like to move forward in the Future Improvements forum, not run into roadblocks placed before a goal set only to attack others.

If people have their hearts set on PK hats if spar hat rewards are added, they may present their case as well. Nobody has any right to tell them it doesn't matter. Perhaps the two groups can work together to make the general idea of a reward system for any or all activities a reality? There are so many similarities and yet too much arguing on the topic. I'd personally be in favor of both if it increased activity. Based on general player responses so far, many people like the idea. Therefore, I think it would serve its purpose well!