AviWorlds: " I did not put any grid down. I simply disagreed that INWORLDZ is the most successful grid."
Linda has made a very good point in the past-- that "success" depends a lot on definition. I think the best example is Linden Lab and Second Life. Is it a "success"? Financially and size-wise, in one viewpoint, no doubt about it. They're fairly profitable and the largest grid on earth. However from another viewpoint, they've repeatedly earned a bad reputation in several areas (a virtual brothel and a money-grubbing corporate attitude, to name two), and they've made more enemies and alienated more customers than any company should be comfy with. So is that "success"? It seems a double-edged sword.
Imo it's really too early to be bandering the word "success" around when it comes to VR grids (although I admit, I myself have done so). Reason being: it's just too early in the game. When the largest population outside of SL is less than 7,000 people... there's really not a lot of bragging room. Other grids clocking in at considerably less than that have even less to brag about. Success? I think that claim in the case of ALL grids (including SL) would be a bit premature.
But as Linda has stated very well-- there are several reasons Inworldz is, to some extent, considered "successful". These include (all of this data excluding SL):
1. Having the largest number of paid-subscriber regions
2. Having the largest concurrency
3. Having the largest number of active users
4. Being the most popular
5. Having the most stable software foundation
So while it is indeed too early to play the "success" game (and I'll not disagree with you there)... if one were to step out and judge overall success at this time, in all fairness Inworldz would at least have to be considered a top-of-the-top contender. They are the most profitable grid outside of SL, have the largest number of active users outside of SL, the largest number of paid sims outside of SL... and they have paid, professional staff. I'd say to at least a measurable extent-- that is some indication of "success". : )