You and your brother are thinking of coming back to a game that you used to love very much? I guess the question is what ended your love for the game last time?
Apparently, as Wollongong pointed out, your second statement seems to indicate you never left, but wish to start again.... Are you Dr. Who? Clearly some kind of time travel must be involved here....
Yes, the forums do seem quiet....I also see more new names in game... The number of people globaling in hunting is way up, but that is because the amount required to get a global in hunting has been reduced... The number of people globaling in mining is way down, but they made it a lot harder to get a mining global... The number of people globaling in crafting is off about 10% from what it was a few months ago, but I have no explaination for that besides it seems some of the Big money players have become more investors and less players in recent months despite the fact you can craft on your smart phone now....
I've been around for 2.5 years with a 6 month break in there somewhere..... Most other games I lose interest in a matter of minutes, so the constant subliminal messages seem too be working on me. So, Log in and take in the subliminal messages and soon you too can be zombified by EU..... mmmmm brains....