Oh trust me, I get the growing up part. I don't have the free time I once did. However, the few remaining projects tend to have like 5 very accomplished devs working in Collab. They post an update once in a blue moon basically just to tease us of projects that will just waste away and never get to be enjoyed by the actual community. Hell I bet we see GTA6 released before we even see just a bug fix patch for Montana Mod 2.5 2.5 years after the release of 2.5(not the original although that would be nice too).
How was the core fanbase alienated? I'd say we are the main ones breathing life support in to this forum. And yes forums have being more and more obsolete but check out some of the GTA mod forums. More then alive and well. Even some of the Sim City communities or Cities XL forums are absolutely thriving still.
At this point, EMP might as well officially be dead. For years we were teased this or that mod or update was coming. At this point, about the last thing I can find is em-c Miami Mod advertised new models around Christmas. Almost 5 month later, still no release. Not to mention the year or two of advertised new models or whatever that have yet to be released like every other mod that seemed to be one last breath of fresh air. The modding community seems officially dead at this point.
Yeah, growing up sucks. I have mods that are scripted and worked on, I just don't have time. I mean I've been playing this series for over 20 years now, the core fanbase of the game has been alienated, forums in general are dead all around the internet. Just life man.