It might just be luck (and probably 100% my perspective), but between Fronen post-coup and the going ons of East continent, it seems to me that battlemaster is in its first upswing since deleting the active half of Dwilight and consolidating the islands.
While I would definitely say a large part of BM experience is perspective (so, if you dont like a place, try somewhere else!), the player decline trend stopped in July 2016 after implementing the island closures. Since then, the trend has been either flat or slightly increasing. Closing West Dwilight was definitely a mistake and one I wish I could undo, but alas, I lack time travel. The lessons learned from that mistake informed the island closure and subsequent decisions.
