How to handle KGS (Go server) and its loss of 8.46% in 33 days ? >>more details here<<

Why should anyone be surprised that those accounts expire? The retention rate for new players is always quite low. With the sudden influx of new players as a result of all the publicity I would expect the retention rate to be even lower. I don't see this as anything which needs "handling".

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

I would basically agree with what Steve says, it is the expected descent after the AlphaGo climb.
Of course, KGS is losing popularity anyway. Beginners in the 'west' often turn to OGS instead, whilst stronger players prefer Tygem / WBaduk, and others get narked-off trying to get Java to let them play. Nothing seems likely to change to remedy these.

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North Lecale

The in-progress web clients for KGS (see threads in the KGS topic) could help with the last issue, at least.

One of those deleted accounts is mine. I play more on other servers, so I often don't play there for two or three months and in addition, for personal reasons, I took a three-month break from go this summer.

So, I wouldn't say that I have been "lost", but rather kicked out which won't help with popularity.

It is unreasonable to expect people to continuously play there. I have many websites where I return from time to time after a hiatus.

Accounts are only deleted after 6 months of inactivity. As long as you log in one every 6 months you do not need to play. I have an account there which I rarely log into and have not played for over 10 years. But it is still active because I make sure to do so every few months.

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Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).