Hrmm *ponders playing angels advocate*
So lets just say for instance we back this up a tad, say a few years.
For years UO has had a dedicated CM. Even then any lulls were met with lulz. That part is a given in any player community.
Then Mythic was absorbed by EA (1k bitcoins if you do NOT mention Borg) and Warhammer was getting a lot of bumps and grinds even though DAoC was the babydoll of Mythic. It's a new title, what else is supposed to happen?
The powers that be at Mythic assured the UO playerbase that UO was included in the family love, DAoC too. We saw some managerial style changes, including the loss of "handles" for the Mythic team posting on forums. Then we saw more changes as well as Mark Jacobs walking away (or running? or at gunpoint? I dunno *shrugs*) and some hard to take layoffs for EA. It was not just the UO team it was many different areas of EA with some entire offices shut down.
Well ain't that the suck? But Mythic hung in there, spread the teams a bit thin I'd suppose but no titles as of yet have been closed down.
Enter Bioware. Can you find a better company who seems to inherently know that nothing released to players should be met with anything less than shock an awe? Soon we have BioMythic and another major title to support. More bumps and grinds for SWToR, which of course is what you do! (it is btw amazing in my lil opinion). This also means more resources needed on a new title, less resources on others but one fountain has to keep full to fill the sippy cups of the others
Enter another Community Guy to help with all the titles, exit two..(two!!) community guys moving on to other projects and you have someone trying to stay on top of feedback for three titles. There is an interesting blog by Beans on this from CCP (that I leave you to google and not link or she'll ban me for sucking up her bandwidth) that outlines a basic day for any CM clocking in.
The sad thing is the front line community team IS the most important spokesman for a company. Hell it's built into the word community manager! You have a producer that is taking on all three titles as well (even with a sick day today!) but don't forget that UO itself is in great hands. It is why UO has lasted for 14yrs and will live to see 15 or i'll eat that 1k bitcoins
I have full trust in Mesanna. GrimmOmen is outspoken when he can be. Logrus, Supreem, hell pick one and I don't mind as much if they aren't vocal on forums if it means their little hamster wheels are still in motion.
I guess my long winded point is, I don't need Jeff or anyone else to reassure me. Not when I can reassure them that as long as there is a UO to play, I'll be playing it.