What I don't get is why Toady doesn't get someone to make some semi-decent 3D graphics and a half-decent GUI for the game. *I* don't mind the game in ASCII and I can play it just fine, but the general public can't. And before you go that I want to dumb down the game and DF is a niche game, DF will always be a niche game due to its complexity. But the complexity should come from the mechanics with are actually providing enjoyment, not from the learning cliff that the graphics and UI currently pose. Instead of the hypothetical 0.000001% playing, graphical improvements might get 0.1% of the people playing, which is a massive improvement.
Last year was in my opinion spent on all kinds of unnecessary candy, that in my opinion did very little to nothing to make the game more appealing or even more fun to play.
I have plenty of friends that play minecraft and other games like that, but refuse to play complex games like DF or Ultima Online because they lack basic 3D graphics, don't have a decent UI and controlling them is highly infuriating. While these people can be pulled over the line with such a little investment of effort.
It just pains me that Minecraft is hugely popular and a Game of Dwarves will likely rake in lots of money too, while DF will always be the bastard child and will never get much attention until the above things improve.