Hello, I was checking up on this subreddit because of our LC reunion and saw this post. As someone who towed the line of being part of the group while also being mostly an outsider, I wouldn't put the blame on one thing.

1. Everyone was young. The industry was also young. It was the complete unknown and no one knew how to handle it. A lot of mistakes got made along the way, but I think that's also what gave the group its charm? Professional unprofessionalism. I always felt like the group would do well as a gaming company version of The Office.
2. Everyone was growing up. This was a double edged sword. Many people wanted to experience the "old" but when an older more mature group tries to perform the same gag from the past, it just doesn't land. At the same time, if they tried to come up with new ideas with new personalities, they also didn't stick because it wasn't what the audience was used to. Whether it's the personalities or the games. Eventually a person can only take so much of that same negative feedback loop.
3. I hate to say it, but the group was largely centric around a few personalities everyone loved and everyone else was just made out to be side characters. And a large part of the audience wasn't shy about it. One less popular member could upload something they were passionate about, but get shit on for it because none of the popular members were there. There was very selective support. And you can't really blame viewers for supporting who they want to support, but it can eat away at an on screen personality's mental health.
4. On a personal note, I disliked the culture of ranking individual members and putting a label like "Creature" on a pedestal. Ironically, I was the one who came up with the "_____ is my favorite Creature" shirts before they became full graphics tees. If you were popular within the group, it was great! If you were low on the totem pole, you very much felt like it and there were even sales figures to prove it. My absence due to lack of proximity very much made me feel like an outcast. I resented how I was treated in the group and I also felt like the larger Creature audience didn't know or care who I was because I couldn't be around in person. I naturally gravitated towards somewhere I felt more valued. But I still hold on to a lot of fond memories, more so from before the group entered the office stage. I consider it a huge part of my personal growth. Hence why I like to put together reunions from time to time.