I still go to skull forts, up until the new event I would definitely say I'd noticed a drop in contested forts, usually we'd get there, smash it in 10-20 mins and be selling up before we'd even seen a ship. I think Athena's is definitely a reason people don't go, for others they're nearing grind end and would rather keep working in relative peace, others are solo and know how risky that can be, others just don't like pvp, either way they've not been coming to play with us lol. After the event started though it seemed like every ship in the server would end up there sooner or later. I think the keg skellies actually make it quicker and easier, especially on the rare occasion we got a few waves in just us two on a sloop, kite them out then hop over a fence or something they can't easily navigate then blow the whole lot up, usually only miss the odd straggler. Waves only take about 30 seconds or so, so you should be able to do the fort in about 5 mins atm, we never do though due to interruptions, negotiations, then once other crews are involved miscommunication, skellies getting split up and chasing off after the wrong guy etc. I'm happy either way, I like the PvE of a fort, OoS is my favorite, but I also enjoy the pvp and/or cooperative aspects, fewer people at forts, more freedom for pve, more people at forts, more betrayal and pvp lol