for example, it wouldn't be so painfully obvious that there weren't many Serco players without the APL to show us the consistently low numbers -- for all we knew there could be a hundred of 'em just not talking in 100.

That sounds like a good thing to me :)

If it was not there, people might actually log in to see if someone is there, and find another reason to stick around.

Word.

Off with its head!

Both sides have good arguments but all in all I think the game would be more immersive without it. Perhaps make it something that only guides can see. I check it before every log in, however I can think of at least one instance where I haven't logged in due to the APL.

Yes, send that traitorous scoundrel of an active players list to Davy Jones'... (not the silly tentactle head thing, but the mythical figure that at least possessed the potential to be frightening).

I believe in Phaserlight's immersion argument. And even if removing the player list is a form of subterfuge, I think it is one that the game would benefit from.

If it were gone, the number of people asking if someone was online in channel 100 would rise by like 5000%...
I don't really see any harm in it, at least not until the game gets popular.

So would the number of people telling the newb to be quiet and use /msg

People still use #100?? O_o

:p

i don't care.
its a nice widget but if i want to log on i log on anyways if i don't feel like playing it won't make me