I am actually surprised how this game died, it was so popular and then one day... it just wasn't, I figured D2 would be popular forever due to the PVP but maybe people just got bored, I still have not found a better game than D2.
That said, USWEST is dead, that was my home, I login usually first day of each season, theres 3-4 people standing in a game, and NOBODY TALKS anymore, back in the day chat was always going, but nobody talks, I was so bored I didn't finish Act1, a few days later I logged in, saw 1 game, basically for drops, with 1 guy in it afk for hours.
I went to East, same thing, but maybe had 5-7 people away, not really playing, everyone is in private games using bots, which I am not going to do.
D2R is amazing and has a lively fun population, I'll be there on their next reset, I'll always have love for D2 but I dont want to just play solo, Diablo 2 is a social game.