SOD is not an option for a very large majority of players, as statistics show
You and I are very well aware that if they launched a regular fresh alongside HC, SOD population would fall down the pit
There will also be no “booming population” from a hardcore server by itself. Remember you can transfer your dead toon to era if you die - imagine how many players would NOT play hc in a scenario where your toon cannot xfer. If they launched a fresh right next to it and if you die you can transfer to the fresh, the following will happen:
- 90% of the playerbase logs in
- target level 1 boar/wolf
- attack monster stop attacking
- die
- xfer to fresh