When I said "niche", I was referring to Halo's market niche. Not the notion of "niche" as "small."

: Looking back I realize I said "they need to find the right niche",
: by which I didn't really mean 'niche' (community) :P, but hopefully
: clarified by the following "balance" - find the right game
: chemistry to provide a game for both ends of the scale. Give up the
: chart-topper (which as demonstrated is making Halo more short-lived), but
: still provide a solid game that appeals to the 'new generation', as it
: were, as well as the vets. Halo may no longer be #1-for-months material.
: And really, that's just fine. Just hopefully don't let it fizzle out. I
: don't believe it's in that spot yet.

I'm not sure you got my point. I don't see any evidence that appealing to the old community would be any less lucrative over the long haul than trying to cut into someone else's pie. I don't see evidence that the demand for "classic Halo" (lol) was falling in any significant way.

I'm not arguing about the high-level machinations, I'm wondering where your initial, most basic assumption comes from.