When I last posted in the IGS back in '08 I can say the forum was active but there were stretches the last post on the page was over a month old. Participation seemed to come in waves and in my hiatus you all could attest to whether or not that is still the case now. I never saw much participation in the IC channels. Then again in fairness I probably only popped into the known Gallente IC channels and they were ghost towns.
If more of the RP is happening in private channels or on an individual basis as I read, then I can only see that as a good thing. It all spills back into IGS participation in one way or another. The IGS looks quite active from my perspective only a month back in game. The topics and discussions are diverse. Everyone enjoys the Amarrian windbag threads when the OP writes something great, but EVE RP then seemed too Amarr/Minmatar heavy and less of the individual tales that I see currently.
It didn't seem that until the Federation elections ramp up began that the Gallente seemed to get some overdue PF attention. Up to that point really, neither the Gallente or Caldari had anything really juicy to write about that wasn't based on stringing out a grudge.
I remember that the accepted impression of the state of RP as a whole in EVE, at that time, was widely regarded as waning. I perceive that same impression holds true for some today. I'm not saying there isn't truth to that. Even when I was living and working in the Providence pipe, it was said that CVA wasn't as RP heavy as they used to be. I heard Provi used to be more fun. Even with that being the case, the atmosphere there was "neat" and honestly still fun because there was RP to be found quite readily in any given system, particularly with UK always meddling.
To hear the last big RP corp has closed in CVA does make me think the region will suffer if others don't pick up the banner of IC shenanigans in that region.
Maybe it's a perspective thing. EVE RP may be just ever evolving. The outlets for RP however stay the same, a forum on a message board, in game channels for IC chat and of course, the most important one, in game, IC actions.