OOC: As a veteran, I can tell you:
RPs in general aren't that popular, usually you know everybody except for the odd newbie, and we don't get a lot of newbies, I personally think it's because it seemns complicated, or maybe we aren't doing something they're interested in. Plus it's a commitment, if you don't pop in a lot you get confused and left behind.
RPs also generally last 3-8 months and 3-5 threads, give or take, unless of course it dies early on. The longest one I've ever seen is Collins, and I started that in January. I've been pleasantly surprised with how long it's lasted, given it's only on its second thread (I am afraid it's going to die soon though). They end in either two ways: either the story is over and concluded (after all, all stories must come to an end), or, less cheerfully, they 'die' which happens when players stop logging in, then posting dies down to the point of only one or maybe two people posting, until finally there's a day or a week when no one posts and everyone just gives up.
Also, some people like RPs, but they can't or won't take the responsibility of coming up with an idea and running one (although truth be told I always like a fellow conspirator/co-head, they're good for second opinions, finding holes or loopholes, judging your ideas and coming up with their own) so mainly those who run them are the one who are good at it/creative/maniacal/obsessive, depending on your point of view. And of course, a few people like Silv (well, actually just Silv, I haven't met another person like her) will run 3 or 4 RPs at a time, but most only run one at a time (I am guilty of this - I am afraid I will mix up the plots/plans).
