Despite Third Dawn, Ultima Online still isn't easy to get into; it's an acquired taste, which many acquired back when there was nothing else available or similar.
The game itself is showing signs of wear. There’s only so much cosmetic surgery they can do and so many new lands they can create before it becomes obvious that the game is just on its last legs.
Let's face it, if you've been playing for this long, you aren't playing for the eye candy and you can probably wait for the 3D version to be fully cleansed before diving into it.