The major blow was the removal of terrain and interiors. Players had more fun in those maps such as San Andreas or other Blocko city maps. If you were too lazy to build, you went to one of GSF maps, build some extra houses and you were done.
I think I'd have to agree that the removal of terrain and interiors was a mistake, but I think the real damage was done with the handling of player disappointment. From what I've seen, a majority of the community (that was and still is) wants/wanted maps back. I personally think the game is a lot less interesting now and it seems a lot of other people thought so too.
Honestly I think this discussion is just going in circles. It has been started many times over and over, and really it's clear that it's not getting through to everyone. "Blockland is dead" is just going to be another one of those things that new players and old players are going to find interest in dramatizing, as has been the case. The facts are that the game's population has taken a dive but it's not dead
yet. Badspot is demonstrating he's very unlikely going to do anything to make the game better, and I think it's really up to the player base to determine how long this game is going to last. It always comes down to a case of someone just needed to put enough time and effort into doing something.
Now in the case of bringing back v20, I've seen the petitions for going back to v20 and all that, but I honestly don't know what you expect Badspot to do. We have some 300 active members, and probably the only thing that will entice Badspot is a large amount of money. Where would we get the money with our small community? I don't even know if that would be enough considering Badspot seemingly hasn't properly capitalized on this game in the last few years.
Honestly though, we complain and all that, but if the game is going to get better I really believe it's up the the community. With all the creatives and programmers on this forum we have all we need. The community just has to organize (an idea that I don't think is new). All I really see on the forums outside the add-ons section (and even sometimes in the add-ons section) is toxic behavior and a lot of incomplete projects (and that attitude has always been present in Blockland). Ultimately I think it's just been present too long and is finally burning Blockland out. It's partially why Ephialtes left, and it's cause for Badspot not wanting to put effort into this game anymore.