It really does seem to be the answer and the problem in the end. But that said, I know mods - I've been a mod! - who've tried to drum up interest in games and get almost no response. Even some with different and unusual premises. I mean, I can't say they'd have stayed as engaged, but they gave it a good try to get one going and nothing.
But yes, finding all those elements is going to be difficult. Not impossible, but not easy at all.
Do you mean like pre-mades? Because it's a fine line, but I believe that it's workable more than it isn't. Those do read more like pre-mades than too restrictive.
I also think - going back to game issues - that maybe a lot of concepts have fallen out of favour, too. Just in general. So it has melted down to the boring and unexciting SoL stuff.