Yes it is, because it's p2p and it's complicated, if you like that stuff then try it just because game isn't popular doesn't mean it's bad. I mean there is a free trial you might aswell check it out.
it is free.. but u have a option to sub for 10 bucks for some premium stuff.. like clothes, bigger storage space, ability to buy lvl 2 and above apartments and special gear... otherwise its all free.
The reason the community is small is because it's really hard to get started on it. Most players are encouraged to play on FDC/LED because they offer training and a way to get started, but starting with something else is a very tough path (namely GOM/BoS/Mercs). The game is also so player-driven that it's hard to make it big especially after it failed with a P2P model. When I mean player-driven, there are no quest givers (only missions randomly generated), the economy is powered by the players themselves, and faction relations are decided by the faction leaders, commanders, and officers.
The economy usually cycles with getting credits by doing missions, making materials using that money, making items out of materials, and then selling them. We even have suppliers for each faction/cell.
I'll talk about my experience in the FDC.
First off, you start with absolutely nothing, but you'll have to make sure you talk to one of the FDC's Training Corps instructors so they could get you started up. We have 101 and 102 classes that deal with how to play as FDC, our laws, etc. You're then given basic equipment (in my day, it was the RGI-9 and Orbit) but you are free to buy your own gear (I ended up buying the Zanathid, Ryx 7, and TAR7 'the sniper rifle'). However, you are given a proper uniform, and you must buy the proper armor sets. This allows us to distinguish who is FDC and who isn't in the heat of the battle, but make it harder for other factions to call out who to focus-fire.
Most of what we do involve enforcing "kills-on-sight" and patrolling cities. However, we have strict rules of engagement set by the current patrol officer (the group leader). During those patrols, we run group missions to get both faction credits (in a sense, your salary) and universal credits (this is what you spend on items).
I personally think a smaller community would fit FoM just fine because of this, but I wouldn't mind it expanding a whole lot more.