I agree with Lantua:
The best thing we have in Istaria ruins the economy: The community with all its familiarity and kindness.
I will never be able to charge someone I know, even if I never had close contact to him/her or even if I never talked to him/her, but know him/her from various chats or the forum.
Why should I? Though I`m not rich (2g in 5 years`* twinks to Galdethriel), I do not need money- if I need something- I`ll get it for free. The gold for our plots and lairs I borrowed from friends- and payed it back over the time.
Item decay will not change that: We (the long term players) live in closed circuits, where everything is available, be it cash, items or service of all kind.

I think economy could start again with low level and new players. Who could and should trade among each other what is needed. Hunt for comps together aso.

But that would mean, that the older players should not support them anymore.
Or at least not as much as we do atm.

But this is against the philosophy of our community- and might cost us new players.
*sigh* I do not know a way out..