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I think a lot of the reason LFG systems fail today, is because there are so many more complex issues today than there was in the early days, and they are mainly centered on voice apps. Yes, we divide ourselves between casual and hardcore. Or PvP and PvE. But nothing divides us more than when we are unwilling to communicate with eachother, due to preferences.

It seems to me that there is more division among players in an MMO today that is caused by the voice issue more than any other issue out there. It not only divides the community, but it divides the community on the basis of things wholly outside a developer's control.

The first and most important thing on the mind of a player who does not want to play with those who don't use his or her preference in voice software, is if the player next to him can log into the voice software.

If they are unwilling to do so because they do not like voice, or unable to do so because they do not use the same software, or they simply cannot agree to a voice server, then they will spend the extra time looking for one that does.

That is why LFG systems are breaking down. They are breaking down because whether or not a player has the skills necessary and the desire to group, unless they are hooked up to TS in a group that is all on TS, the player might as well not exist.

I can personally say that there is no more frustrating feeling to be in a group where everybody is noticeably ticked off because I'm not hooked up to voice, nor ever will be. Or no more frustrating feeling to be in a guild that doesn't see the point in voice, when a few players want it. Or when a game integrates voice in the game, whether the players want it or not.