Mystic, you're right to say that most people like Circuit better in theory than in practice (I am once such person). But I think we're kind of ignoring the elephant in the room here: Circuit is blatantly broken right now, and until we fix the glaring flaws, how are we supposed to say with certainty that the whole gametype is a failed experiment?
Seriously, why don't we ax the lives system, add a Spectator Mode for latecomers, and see what that does to Circuit's popularity? Maybe it'll do nothing, and maybe it'll foster a renaissance of interest in the gametype...we can't say for sure that people wouldn't want a fixed version of Circuit until we actually offer them one. All we can say right now is that Circuit in its current state is garbage.
If a new version of SRB2 features a polished Circuit, and nothing changes, then fine, I'll support its removal from the OLDC and its eventual death. If people actually take notice, and the Master Server fills up with crowded Circuit servers, then let's keep it.
Maybe it's just me...after all, I'm the guy who, for over a year, held out hope that I could transform Spacewalk Zone into something enjoyable. But I'm just saying I don't think it makes sense that we should consign Circuit to a slow descent into defunctitude without first trying to iron out its obvious problems and seeing what happens.