It was popular because it was big MMO launch bu cit was a mess that was best enjoyed from afar. Year after (when I started playing) it got better and I quite enjoyed it. It does some things extremely right (combat is fun, gathering is satisfying, it's super pretty) but some aspects like questing is medicore.

I also feel like they still don't really know what they are doing with it, it lacks vision from where I'm standing. I still hope it will somehow thrive though.