[semlar]

Discord has a more robust chat system, is far more accessible to new users than IRC, and has a client that was actually designed in this century.

The only thing keeping the IRC chat going right now is momentum.

It already has a community of people using it that like it for what it is, and they'll continue using it unless sufficiently motivated to change platforms, regardless of how objectively superior the alternatives may be.

I don't know about anyone else, but I sure as hell couldn't be bothered to find and install an IRC client in 2017 to join one channel to ask a question, but I suppose maybe the barrier to entry is part of the appeal for current members since it keeps less motivated and tech-savvy individuals out.

There's also quite literally nothing stopping anyone from being in both chats if wowinterface wanted to set up an official Discord server and put a link to it somewhere.