Wes,
As a retired highsec criminal of old, I can confirm than yes… Eve changed to get rid of me and my ilk.
At one time there were hundreds of high sec fighters lined up around the caldari space to scuffle over stolen scrotumite, perceived insult, or nothing at all.
We played largely without need or interest in over.
The highest form of art was the flipped can and a well delivered song in local
Yes, I had other ships, but I specialized in t1 frigates because absolutely nothing in new Eden would undock a fleet like a hotly flown T1 frigate that could serenade local with a smooth dialect of smack talk and lolcat.
It’s a lost art so many years gone that few remember it.
In its day, Eve was special. Truly, no game has ever offered pvp or such depth and visceral reality.
Sadly, the shell of a game that remains isn’t even discernible as different to its current denizens.
Eve lost what made it special. Perhaps someday they will try to get it back.
Mo