My wife and I also did not renew our passes this year. We had the Select pass, and last year we were able to go on Friday afternoon to almost all of them other than the summer. Then this year just about all Fridays are blocked beginning in March, ugh. So the value became lost on us. Also the loss of nighttime entertainment which brought us to the parks for dinner and music is gone, zero, zilch left. On the last day of our passes earlier this year we realized going there was just for rides now, no entertainment really anymore.
Now that it's been a few months, I have the itch again though. I want to go on Sunday for my birthday, but what just a few years ago on discount days would cost $100 or so for 3 people, now would be $450. Still considering it with passes again, but with only 13 total Fridays unblocked for the full year it appears, hmmm. I guess we would go less, but then make the days count more. It's frustrating since in the summer we went to Knotts with some tickets we won and had a great time once nighttime came with all the bands that used to play at Disney, even cast members who were in the T-Party Band were there! ugh, what to do, I love Disneyland... maybe I'll go get a hotel in the area and just go to downtown Disney and the hotel for dinner and get the "feel" of Disney without spending a ton.
I think it's people like you and I and spur of the moment visit people how are just not going as much now. Cost is too high with less to do than ever, and all of us passholders have already ridden the rides 300 times each.