Speaking only for myself, I've been away because I've not had time to spend regularly on the site. The job, chorus and quartet rehearsals, keeping a house, and being a double Step-Dad has kept me busy enough.
I think that behaviour's representative of some of the monks here -- they visit regularly for a while, then drift away, depending on the demands of their life. However, new members join, with some old and some new questions. And the community's still alive and well, as is the language. I would be more worried if development of the core language had stalled, or if key developers had moved on to something else.
You have certainly livened the place up -- trying to come up with a good answer for some of your questions can be quite a challenge.
We'll be here for some time -- that's my opinion. :)
Alex / talexb / Toronto
Thanks PJ. We owe you so much. Groklaw -- RIP -- 2003 to 2013.