What you say makes no sense, people have already given up instead of trying. reopen the server and design it in a way that not everyone will leave it in 3 months...
No matter what you do to a finished server, it won't help, it's not the players' fault, it's the management who opens the server without caring, there is no GM at the events, a little effort is needed, nothing much is needed, everyone loves the pro anyway.
The +8 rate should be the same as USKO. The +9 rate should be opened. If you do not give people a purpose, you cannot expect them to stay. Upgrade papers should be made more difficult. You need to plan how to make it last longer.