I use patrol spaces for rough testing gear (do I like this weapon or roll) before deciding if I want to keep it. Against Vex 'cause they're slower, Cabal 'cause they're tankier, against the rest 'cause they're quicker. Or for an easy space for bounties when I'm tired. Patrol spaces are not empty. Public events are typically well attended. Players come and go, but it's no rarer to be alone in the instance than it was pre-EoF. I ran a few games of Dares a few weeks ago. Filled up easily. Wellspring too. The "old locations" are still being used. People are still having fun in the worlds. I wish they'd make them worthwhile to play in. I keep a 200 level of gear in all of my slots for upgrading stuff pulled from vault. It'd be nice to be able to get gear for levelling or just materials farming. I don't mind if it isn't brought fully into tiers, but it'd be nice to be able to get some use out of it beyond glimmer.