No, popularity isn’t the yardstick of quality.
But yeah, even though I own GW2 I don’t play it either. Its fine, just wasn’t that big into its world/story.
That being said… for WoW not needing to copy GW2. It has done that plenty over its development along with other MMO’s. It’s what Blizzard has always done: refine systems (or even entire genres) of games. Sometimes a bit too refined (dumbed down).
Maybe because people just havent seemed that interested in it. I have played wow for 20 years and have not heard a lot of complaints about banks not being shared or needing more account bound items.
I did look at FF14, then i stopped looking at it as it made me want to be sick.
GW2 never had a outrageous large following though to begin with. It attracted a very certain and select kind of player.
I did try it, but the combat style, lack of clear roles, only way to dodge is well double taps to dodge etc. Yeh it simply wasnt for me. WoW took off because it did things in a certain way which appealed to the masses.
And I agree with others on here. Player housing is pointless and a waste. Garrisons was enough for me to not want to see it again.
Getting a really good housing systhem isnt worth the time you have too put in, if the put in moderate time it will fail
But they could make a housing sythem thats fun and exiting and people will enjoy it BUT
They would have put in way too much time too get it right