No one in the SWG player based asked for the NGE and many flat out left because of it. BTW, NGE is still there.
Do they listen, sure they do. Are the people who are actually paid to design a game actually going to do what some guy on the forum told them to? Umm NO, they are the ones paid to do that job and they certainly won't be paid anymore if they aren't coming up with the ideas for the game like they are paid to do. People are very happy to champion their own baby but could careless about someone elses. They have plenty of their own ideas they want to see happen and are pushing for. The crazy stuff on the forums is simply not considered in the grand scheme of things because the stuff on the forums doesn't take into consideration the grand scheme.
They have a defined direction they wish to take the game in, good or bad. They will take the game in that direction even if the fans aren't their. They do this because they believe the fans will be there when the time comes and will see their great game as great. Even the people behind the NGE thought this way, until Nov 05 that is.
Also keep in mind, they don't actually own the ideas posted on the forums. They have no interest in getting sued for using an idea they did not pay for. If you really want to see something in the game the best thing to do is shut up about it, say nothing on it and just silently hope someone actually paid to come up with such ideas thinks of it too. As soon as you put the idea out there it becomes toxic. If they dont have documentation they had the idea first, they will let the fan idea lie.