For some people it's hard to be active enough. That's how my first RP group, Tree of Ruined Wings, died out. No one was active. Nothing happened. We died before launch, too. I was still 'making' some stuff for it when I declared it dead. It was group developed too, and to see the people of the group not be active was.. sad. I'd done all this work for nothing. I usually work with lore, since I love writing it but, ToRW had a sort of plot, too. Sorta. The old leader had died and had no heir, which could develop rivalries, and then war. I, the owner, also would have given everyone a fair chance to become the leader, instead of driving the plot toward me becoming the leader, and the plot would weave itself from there maybe.. Yeah it was very loose. If only it had continued.. Would have been interesting and fresh.
I hope with my new group I can take in what you said and make an active group, thanks for laying this out to us all, friend!