Today I shall give my honest theory on how the fanbase will hold up by comparing it to another.
Pokémon. You heard me right. Pocket Monsters.
If you've spent any considerable time on the interwebz, you've probably noticed how many memes, fan works, and praise in general have popped up featuring the late 90s/early 2000s Pokémon craze. No, not the series as it is now, but how it was during the Indigo League, Orange Islands, and for many but not all, Johto Journeys. The character design/art style was clever as well as the writing, and it was just honest to goodness quality stuff, and that's just the show. There are countless everyday references to Blue, Red, and Yellow versions, most notably in the form of creepypasta.
Now, if you've noticed, that period of the franchise is a little past a decade over with, going on 15 years. But not in the hearts of the fans.
Does any of this sound familiar?
In my opinion, MLP:FiM is vastly similar to that fanbase. The classic days of Pokémon are held in high regard not just from nostalgia, but because they were legitimately great.
Which MLP happens to be just as fantastic, if not moreso.
Both of these series taught us important lessons, and in the case of bronyism, changed our life and how we treat others for the better. Something that deep isn't going to just evaporate even if the show comes to its end. This fanbase is special, and I'm sure a lot of you agree. I've noticed a lot of bronies are unsure of the fandom's future, but if you ask me, it's here to stay. And that makes me more than happy.
So there you have it. Feel free to post your thoughts. *hops off soapbox*