I have kept out of Opensim and Second life for a while. Just some occasional visits to pay for my gallery and shops.
I have explored some other communities that have what I think virtual worlds lack. Simulated vehicles. I have found some old Flight simulator networks that are really thriving. Thousand of pilots and controllers do virtual flying everyday. Real training systems for pilots and controllers. With classes over internet with TeamSpeak. Yes it can be used for other things than games.
I am amazed that old software like Flight simulator 2004 and FSX are still expanded with new products both commercial and free from the community. I found people driving sports cars together and now I am just waiting to meet other trucks in Euro truck simulator.
People still play Counter strike and my World of warcraft server is full like never before.
It is strange that big areas of Second life is so empty. I check my OSgrid island and maybe a few visits a month. Clearly virtual worlds have a great future. The art community in SL is strong and still some fascinating work is done. LEA being one of the places to visit. Clubs still come and go and I suppose there are a lot of people having cybersex. As there are no theme in virtual worlds and a lot of freedom I think it would be the perfect place to find new things to do. But unfortunately no.
I found a lot of other virtual hobbies to create for and now days I am trying to figure out what to do in SL and Opensim when I have found so many other great places to be on the net.
We need a new vision to develop further or a great new business idea.