In fact, a few people have suggested to me that Shechem is the faction that is most lacking among the playable ones from actual map. After reading a lot of historical information about it, there is some truth to it. I hope that this faction will be unlocked someday, either by Devs or Modders.

CA is no longer developping this game, so the first possibility seems unlikely. However, in Steam's workshop, there are a few mods that unlock all unplayable factions, but obviously some content is missing.

I hope we can persuade the developers to return to the game. Dynasties reviews were a lot better than the base game's. 

To be honest i think that it will be hard to persuade them even to release a patch with bugfix and balance changes with Shechem or Knossos playable. Something more like map expansion with Thracia or Nubia is very unlikely to happen. My petition about possibility to continue to official supporting Pharoah took very small number of votes. 

The game currently has fewer players than a game that would now legally vote, even if the adulthood limit is restored back to 21 years old, so I doubt CA will come back.

Ah nuts, well I hope more people purchase the game and get CA to come back. One can dream right? haha

Did CA abandon Pharaoh because of low player count, or did the game get a low player count because CA abandoned Pharaoh...

A lot of the time these things are a self fulfilling prophecy

The former. Pharaoh holds the record of the least popular Total War game, surpassing even Throb.