He still lurks if nothing else - last activity was logged as just a couple of days ago.
Forum activity goes up and down - as does the quality of members. You get out what you put in and if people want to leave because they feel like "no one needs them" or "they no longer matter" or some other attention-seeking nonsense then that is entirely up to them. If you feel unappreciated by a forum then that really is your problem and no one's responsibility to redress but yours. What do you expect from a community? Big pats on the back every time you make a good thread? Lots of recognition for being around for longer than a bunch of other people? You cannot expect others to define your status on a board - that's your job, if it matter so much to you.
This is specifically why I pay little to no attention to long protracted "I'm leaving" type threads because all they seem to do is try to gain more attention for the leaver who undoubtedly will still lurk from time to time to make sure they are missed and it's all very silly. Sorry, but that's how I feel. Yes, it's a shame when a long-standing member decides to leave but it's hardly the sort of thing we should be slitting our wrists over. LoD made a decision and that's his prerogative. If he wants to come back, he can. If he doesn't, so be it. But enough already with this bizarre eulogy-style behaviour every time someone leaves the boards who has been here a while - those of his friends here are still able to contact him, play XBL with him etc, so just let it lie.
P.S. - before someone gets their virtual knickers in a twist, the top paragraph is not aimed at anyone specifically - just a generalisation.