I don't understand why people say Old maple was so much better

Better equipments doesn't automatically make maple "new", it just makes them more affordable. It's still a lot of money to get a perfect weapon.

What made the old maple was it's community, and since most of them have moved on, it's impossible to get back.

Yes it's a lot of money to get a perfect weapon, but to get a weapon close to it? It was cheap. Of course now it's not because there are less 2H 50s now.

Yes I agree with you the community was a part of the old maple and how it used to be, but many people stop playing because of the potential system.