That’s the point...you need to recruit new players constantly. That’s easier said then done.
My Limit game only had 15-18 players in the loop to fill 10 seats. We almost always filled 10 seats and sometime had two tables going...for FOUR years! The core group was about 7-8 guys who always showed up. The balance was really only used to fill 2-3 seats. Of that core group 5 were consistent losers but they usually played all night on a buy-in...maybe 1 1/2 buy-ins on a really bad night.
Back then we cashed in for $60 for $2/4, $100 for $3/6Limit and only $100-$150 for $1/2NL. Some of those guys went through 3 buy ins a night in NL. All the sudden, after four years, they were too busy to make the games. We couldn’t even get 6 people of our 18 or so to play even once a month.
The initial attraction to NL from the losing group was that their loose play would be occasionally rewarded in NL when they got lucky and flopped two pair with J4 against kings, etc. Loose play in Limit will bleed you out with a smaller chance of winning enough pots to pay for your bad play.
I am younger so I don't really grasp Limit. When I say I don't "grasp" it I mean I think it sucks. I played Limit for a bit at the casino years ago waiting for a spot to open in NL and it was the worst.
I agree about your points about keeping a game running though. It is hard when people play 1/2 and lose 2-3 buy ins per night. My crew just plays $20 NL. so even if you lose 3 buyins you are still only stuck $60. It is essentially my group of friends and I would feel bad if anyone stopped coming just because of the money. It is supposed to be fun not a secondary source of income for the good players...