I think that one of the biggest problems with player retention is that the game is WAY more fun once you have a decent grasp on what you are doing and a group of people you enjoy playing with, so it can be hard for new players who don't have friends who play to get into, so they give up before they can experience the joy of a well-functioning team that really makes the game special. I don't know how to solve this. Maybe a well-advertised mentoring system that people can sign up for? I know people have suggested similar things in the past and I think it would be really neat.
Nah solo players can find enjoyment as well. They just have to have their own goals or focus. Heck I'm a solo player. Part of a group now but I'm still generally solo most times I'm on.
Once I realized this is just like vehicles in Battlefield, except people can't just use me as transport and are forced to do things which keep the ship alive, it was a very easy to find enjoyment. In BF, I work on K/D ratio. Not for bragging rights but because I don't like meat grinder combat. Run, gun, respawn action doesn't excite me. Often times in BF if I go down, I'd lose my tank or chopper, then someone else would snag it before I'd respawn or get back. Then I'd watch them fly into AA fire and use it as transportation instead of trying to be effective. Half the time they'd get picked off in the air while chuting and I'd question what the point was of doing that. Its a moment when you're glad the military doesn't just let anyone pilot or drive because if they did, we'd have much higher casualty counts in wars.
Yes I'm a vehicle hog, but till people can prove they can survive longer than me, I see no point in giving up my tank/chopper. Especially not when I just watched the last idiot rush into a RPG nest and kill no one. Same basic thing transfers well to GOIO. If you're going to be a pilot, be effective. Make sure for every kill they get out of you, you take 2-3 down with you. The challenge of doing that with random crews is at times enjoyable and at times frustrating. But what is awesome about GOIO is, crews always recognize it and want to stay. "Hey, we didn't die at all did we?" is probably the best comment I get. I'm like, yeah what do you expect? I'm trying to fly not trying to die.