From what I know of ANet, they like to experiment and test the market with new ideas. Even from early GW1 days the idea of a non subscribtion based mmo of its size was a new concept, and it worked well for them. Then when GW2 was released it was designed to push the boundaries of what we expect from mmos. The approach they've taken with Icebrood Saga is new, and I'm guessing they plan to keep a level head and see how things go. They can switch their pitch on the fly, as they've got enough free reign to do that and find the best way to deliver the gaming experience they want. Whatever the future holds for this game I believe it's always done with the best intentions to keep fans happy and interested.