Even if it's true that the level of participation has gone down, the level of participation is still enormous. As always, that participation includes people who are new to the language. Many of them are in the process of becoming regular Perl users who will make valuable contributions to the community or even to the Perl code itself.

What does it matter if Perl isn't as "popular" as it was last month or last year? Sheer popularity matters when electing a Prom King and Queen at high school (although I've never seen that achievement actually listed on a resume).

Perl is popular enough, meaning it continues to attract enough bright, interesting new people to push the language forward.

"Re-invigorate interest"? That implies there isn't any interest or that there isn't enough interest. There continues to be an enormous amount of interest. It's more than enough interest.

"Re-kindle the flame"? That implies the flame has gone out. No way, man.

What we need to do on PerlMonks and in other public venues is to make the new people feel good so they'll stay a while. Some of them are on their first date. Others are going out for the second or third time. They are trying to decide whether they'd like to take the time and effort to get to know this person and possibly make a commitment. You're out to eat at a nice restaurant with your date (the "PerlMonks Cafe") but when you go into the restroom you overhear some guy talking about your date: "Yeah, I've gone out with her and she still gets dates but not as many as she used to ... so she's seen her best years." You return to your table a bit discouraged. Do those other guys know something you don't know, or are they just fascinated with the new girl in town who wears tight sweaters (we'll call her "Ruby")? If you let that kind of popularity be your guide and end your date now, you might well miss the opportunity to get to know the one who would be your loyal soulmate for life.