If the deal goes through, it'll be important for every possible CoH related site to promote the return as much as possible.
Having had the pain of losing the game once...the sheer sense of heart rending loss...I think any 'deal' will send a shockwave through the MMO community. Curiosity value. People who never got the chance. CoH community may be more vociferous in its promotion IF we can secure its return.
If every CoH player of the 100k (?) installed base at close(?) recruited just one player...CoH would overtake Eve Online's alleged 150K(?) subscriber base?
Add the 'spiritual' successor efforts to the mix (who should feel emboldened by CoH's return...) ...and all the people who came to hear about CoH after it's closure...I think there is a potential momentum behind it's return that it never quite had (inexplicably) when Paragon was actively developing it.
Seriously, when I look at some of the MMO junk out there...with their 'plastic' graphics, kludgy and clumsy design and 'rubber nosed' combat and arcane 'skill' systems...I think there is some crazy kind of universe...bizzaro style, that allows CoH to die while e.g. 'Pick any rubbish MMO' yet lives.
In short, the CoH community will re-double its promotion efforts should CoH return. And any promotional campaign should actively target recruitment to the CoH community.
As a badge of honour...no less.
Azrael.