It's basically a shell of what it used to be. Eoc may feel like it has improved game play to a large portion of the players, but to most of the veterans(not all), the game lost it's feeling, maybe not of originality but there is nostalgia involved whether some of us realize this is or not.
Runescape was kind of an old world styled game, and it even lost that over time slowly after Gower left, and his vision was no longer a factor in this game. That's why so many people are hyped over 06scape, because graphics and gameplay are not the main factor, but the friends you made and the good times you had with other players.
06scape is pure nostalgia and is definitely a major factor of why veterans still play Runescape to this day, because of these old values that are now being lost and they are trying to salvage what good times they had before. Why else are rares like phats so expensive, because they are old, discontinued items that demand respect of some sort when worn by players that show wealth.
Nostalgia is even involved in items. What brought the veterans to Runescape is now either down on its last leg or gone. If veterans say they play Runescape for it's great graphics or gameplay, they must have to be atleast partially lying to themselves or not even realize it yet. I don't like to make assumptions on how players view this game, but i think i can speak for a lot of veteran players.
Or I'm probably just talking a lot of nothing.