rabbitoid: Actually I think live Ponds could attract more players. Nowadays there are many that won't play because the Pond always lasts for at least a couple of weeks and they may not control their availability to play during that period...
For instance, whenever I go on vacation, I have to stop signing up for ponds over 1 month in advance!

Live Ponds might not suffer from this syndrome... Or they may, it all depends on the time limit for each move and of how people decide to (ab)use it...