The VC:MP will start its end when populated servers like littlewhitey, XE, EA, XS, argonath and others will close just for the reason of "no players" when their server is one of the most populated servers. (or they will close them for the reason that they think is The Moment)
Players have some stats that keeps them on that server, they have ranks, levels, and others.
I saw how just an old and closed (for a time) server (littlewhitey) became one of the most populated servers. Why ? 'cause maybe they (players) played on that server in the past.
Are not many players that wants to test a new server, 'cause i think that they are thinking something like: "Another DM server".
If you don't know how to announce your server (posting on forums, uploading vids on youtube etc.) and if it has nothing new in it (edited versions of GUPS, FBS, Warchief, etc), it will not be populated at all.
Let's be creative and let's do things that VC:MP players never saw ! ( + some nice trailers on yt )
Actual VC:MP scripters are keeping these players online on servers.
Sometimes I'm watching at the browser, to see how many players are online, and I never saw more then 180-190, until last week.
First time in my life I saw more players online !
215 - I made some prints, but unfortunately my last print was with 208 players.
I didn't take a print screen when was 215 'cause I thought I will never show these prints...