My original plan was to return for Retribution (since long before we knew what that expansion was called) if nothing has happened on my own front by then, before if something does. By then I'll have to finish up all things character-related, but I expect that, should I find a good corp and 'get back into it' for real this time then I'll find something meaningful to do In-game and likely be active again. Until then there are skills to be set.
Besides that, what can CCP do to make EVE more alluring? Plenty of things.
Things like...
Allowing characters to become official parts of specific NPC factions. Let's say I could return to EVE and have my toon join the Federation Navy or FIO or whatever groups are available in other Empires. Joining these factions has positive as well as negative results, depending on view-point. For instance, only Federation hull flown while in Fed-Navy. You receive missions and tasks from NPC superiors (run by CCP actors, preferably 2-4 per corp to lessen the strain) and have to follow orders given. Besides this your free to RP as you please while part of these and are directly involved in matters involving your faction.
Engagements between Fed Navy/Cal Navy elements led by player Capsuleers supported on both ends by NPC ships, halting raids by pro-Sansha Capsuleers integrated into Nation leading his incursions, dealing with rampaging 'freelancer' Capsuleers (average players), dealing with Serpentis or-what-have-you crime masterminded and executed by serpent-loyal Capsuleers, running official Duchia Foundry/Astram Mining/whatever mining ops to help supply your faction with ores, assisting in the research efforts of whatever corp you belong in and leading exploration efforts in their name, and so on.
In short, the ability to sacrifice some game-provided freedoms for the ability to directly take part in and assist the game-world's inhabitants and help in the direction the 'background factions' go. The creation of new PF and game-history in the process.
It's never going to happen ofc, due to a variety of different reasons, but if it ever did it would be awesome and I would be playing as much as I could.
Until then, Retribution seems like it could be a nice expansion, I've mild hopes for it. Also like Kat said, an upgrade of all ship skins and textures would be great. I loved the new Maller skin, I like the new Stabber, and there are few ships that won't benefit from updates.