I kinda find myself agreeing with Ord here, the main reason I like RPing online is for character development and such like. Plot is just something that works to that end. But that's my taste, and that does not make me right. :)
What I will say is this… nowadays I spend a lot of time playing on a server called Arelith. (I am intending to RP on Arabel more soon though, now I've got more time) WHich I have a lot of fun on and is far more... immersion orientated and less plot orientated. Is this better? Worse? I don't know. Not going to comment. I enjoy it a lot though.
Anyway I've been RPing with this player who, to be frank, is pretty bloody stunning in his RP. I mentioned Arabel to him, and he gave it ago.
His opinion was that he really found it very cold. He said he tried interacting with people, sent up a few interesting emots, tried a few conversations, but didn't get anywhere. Mostly everyone just ignored him, save for one player whom I won't mention so as not to single people out (even for good things). But on the whole he was not impressed by the RP merely because no one really took any interest in him or his character, or gave him much help at all. So, understandably, he didn't stay.
This is someone I consder a pretty darn good RPer, and if we lost him, who else have we lost? Because Arabel can be a bit eleetist(1) and because we are a little cliqueish,(2) And because we don't get drawn into random, interesting, characterisation RP as much as we used to.
Just something to consider.
(1) Not an entirely bad thing, it means we have high standards. This is good. But it can put people off.
(2) Something I am a little guilty of myself if I am honest. I'll put my hands up and admit to that.