If someone takes out/destroys the old agathion system, I personally will be done with these servers and probably l2 in general. Not a big deal, right. But I'm sure it won't be only my decision.
To be honest, this is the only item type that holds the old player base. Cheaper servers are waiting...
The stones are already heavily nerfed. All damage dealers have AoE skills, supports have control skills...
People, who's using stones/etc., suppose that attacker may kill them. So it's just a game of timings. They do not use these items against weak toons. Think about it.