100K subscribers is less than 5% of the people playing D&D 25 years ago. How many of those are paid, vs given away for taking part in events and such? More things we don't know, meaning # of subscribers is just as "useless" as the reports from reputable monitoring companies that PF was outselling 4e over the last 3 quarters (some of which predate the 5e announcement)
50 million is the amount needed to become a FLAGSHIP product. Not just to exist in Hasbro (as has been mentioned quite a few times). That wasn't a "make 50 million or get dropped". I believe it was Umbran or Morrus who mentioned that Hasbro only made 650 million last year, and they have far more than 13 product lines. TSR made 40 million back in the 80s....adjust that for inflation...and it can be done.
Like 4e or not, the changes to the game, the changes to settings and all the associated baggage lost them customers. Far more than they gained in new players, or we wouldn't be here right now. Good lord, their superstar writer (Salvatore) even called them out in public about the game and the changes. That's an issue.
If they want a successful 5e, they need to walk the line between keeping the 4e people and bringing back the lapsed customers. Loosing the guy with the old school credentials and trust is not the way to do this. They need to bring someone else in that the prior edition people have some faith in, or they need to hit a homerun with the open playtest.
If they can't do that, then they should just make 4.5, and give up on ever getting those people back.
I will download the open playtest docs, I will run a group through the scenerios. If it feels more like 4e than 1/2/3 or even better, it's own system, I will be done with it. THIS is their shot to take my gaming money away from Paizo.
I WANT to spend money on D&D and a shiny new edition. I like new books. By the same token, they've constantly failed to deliver over the last 4 years, and my patience is at an end.
Show us you want us back by bringing in someone with old school credentials or make sure 5e is it's own animal by the 24th of May.