About the viewers part - this discussion is here for years and we would need a test what is more:
A - mainly viewers who moved to streams and were mainly players before
B - mainly players who moved to play AoC from streams being mainly viewers
I for my self started playing online after watching zeroempires stream fist for a few month and have by now over 100 games in both 1v1 and tg on voobly. So this movement does exist (I am only 1600 voobly, not 1800+, so maybe I don't count for you).
By the way, I think you over exaggerate by more than just a bit when you say players sell their soul when they play on an tournament running on AoE HD. Seriously, get your frame right.