Would this increase our numbers and MR's profitability?  Or would it basically split numbers in half and essentially make both world's irrelevant?  

It wouldnt split the existing number in half.  It would cause those that find that they would enjoy better opportunities on a new server without the existing regime.  The users waiting in the wings for the current regime to be removed woudl sign back up and have a go on server 2.  The users who quit a while ago would also sign back up to have a go.  Rarely do people have a start at ground-zero where they can race to the top and legit have a fair shake at it.  I believe our numbers would increase.

You wouldnt be allowed to play in both servers either.

The idea of a second server is a last resort.  If the game reaches a point where it cant sustain the current situation its in, I will launch a 2nd world as an option so those who have no interest in playing in the current climate have a place to escape from where they are free to play again.

I imagine long term, server 1 would lose a chunk of its users, and server 2 would become the 'fun' place.  Server 1 would probably die out eventually.

I just...feel like this would be a lot of extra programming and expense (the cost of an additional server) for what would be accomplished by an annual/regular reset. 

"A Second Server" isnt actually a second server.  It would reside on the same servers that we currently use.  There would be no additional hardware/software/logistical expenses.  Just the cost for the additional hours for payroll for development.

" So by that logic it's worthless to put more time and money into these chars because more people want a second world and you said yourself this one would die. Good to know I guess "

I think you missed the part where I said this would be a last ditch effort.  When the game is at the point where its evident that enough people have been driven away that it can on longer sustain itself, thats when I would do this.  There are many plans to ride out the current storm and keep things going as long as possible so that the current climate can change.

I do not make these decisions lightly, this is about keeping my eye on the long term.  I want MR to be here years down the road, I would like to see it recovering and start gaining players and be at a place where we can start putting money back into advertising by the start of the new year, and I really hope the current regime would aid in reversing the exodus and help plot the course to increasing the userbase, adding to the satisfaction of logging in daily, and looking forward to playing an account

But as they ever so eloquently reminded me, thats my job, not theres, so I can only count on them going down the same path they have been, which is causing me to make sure I plan for all eventualities - one of which is that by the time they are done having their fun, that they have laid waste of MR too many times that it can't recover.

If we had to do a second server situation, we would be implementing a lot of the features that would be unfair to put into a live game, it would provide a more fair playing environment since it would be more difficult to run the entire game for long terms without passing the baton. 

The goal is to remove the investment feature when the game has enough that it can handle anything it could need without outside income,  myself included.

So in the long term, it doesn't matter. The investments, were used to get us way future proof with hardware, proper redundancy on a hardware and backup level and to make sure we have every contingency covered. We have that all covered now and investments are just used as a slush fund for slumps in sales and for additional development. It will be quite a few years before we need anything else hardware wise with the exception of replacing failed hardware.