You have to be there from the beginning. Solutions to this problem were few and far between. Start off simple, hook players, and keep them hooked by giving them more to do as time goes on. Everyone hoped that an RPG that offered enough fun right from the outset would keep even mass market types playing. In addition to time investment, business considerations also limit the likelihood of mass market RPG's.
Funding offers a significant reality check.
A quick poll of the room revealed a little over ten of the thirty-odd attendees were currently developing RPGs. Summation Everyone that spoke in our roundtable seemed to have definite set views on things. People seem to have messianic beliefs about RPG's, perhaps more so than developers working in any other genre. Findings ways to compromise is difficult, like trying to sort of implement the Death Penalty. In the end, it is probably for the best that there are many games out there with many different styles.