Honest opinion? Inactive OOC murdered the previous incarnation for me. However, for the most part I was only an observer, due wholly to my own schedule at the time. It probably holds wait that I didn't do as much to stop it. I don't feel the onus of blame is on the plot, or on the plotters, though I recognise that there are probably things that can be changed.

As for timeframe, I've always maintained that it should be determined by the player on a character-to-character basis, rather than in fitting the time constraints of the game. For me it's not a question of whether this is a 'Year One' story, or a 'Year Four' story. 

As GMs, perhaps a bit more cooperation on the lore front as well?