i think Rhineland is the hardest place to get new players into because of vanilla FL's leveling and unbalanced ships.
first step for every new player is to make enough money to buy a rhino, that's only 50,000 in liberty where as if you travel to rhineland, the most basic freighter you can get, the humpback, is 500,000
then what's a new player going to do? after asking over system, they'll be mining scrap near pitsburg. rhineland doesnt really have an attractive safe and profitable mining field.
so because of this it's hard to get new players in, as for established players.... no idea, i like rhineland, i like how professional your RM are.
honestly i think all houses populations could be improved by having profitable trade routes within the house, dedicated inter-rhineland traders, i might think about setting one up if i can find some good routes tonight.
i spose if you removed the blockade, you'd get an influx of players bringing neon to dresden and metals out.
sorry, i'm just typing as i think and some of this could be better written.