Have you considered deleting the server and starting over? I've been playing since 2016 and 90% of my friends have left because it's over and they have no goal. As SHM is a common addition and not a legendary weapon. I understand that there is a lot of money in it, so maybe make a new blizzlike for players who want to play slowly and shut down the old server over time. You have to see for yourself that it's all going downhill.
Why should decade old progress be deleted? Because your friends are gone? Did even one of your friends achieve 100% on achievements, or did they just kill LK and call it quits? Would they come back just to grind a bit and kill LK again, then quit?
Or is this suggestion a vain attempt at removing every SM and force players to play x1?