It won't split the community, in fact, most CURRENT players are perfectly content with the CURRENT game. This is more of an opportunity to bring back players. If Everquest is any example to use, a time-locked/progression server is very successful. In fact, most the players that came back played on both the specific server type AND the normal servers. So it can actually grab more attention towards what SE is doing with the game. I also think "splitting" the currennt population is irrelevant considering content now and days is only done with 6 people. Anyways, the idea of a server like this is great, one issue with receiving feedback for it though is the people who would love this server aren't around these forums. Which actually leads into another issue, SE would have to do some type of promotion to "experience FFXI during it's pinnacle" and crap like that.

The real issue is the money. If they invested time to do something like this, would they make a profit? From 2 different experiences, I personally believe so, RO's progression server, and EQs progression server were both examples of success. Do I think it could work for FFXI? Definitely, matter of fact, I'm willing to bet with the current state of a lot of the players in FFXIV feel like they have nothing to do, might jump at the opportunity to play FFXI during the beginning eras again during their downtime in 14 (promotion example).

Ultimately, I would love a server like this. I feel SE could make it a success. Will they do it though? Really hard to say, maybe they have something in the works. I mean look at all the campaigning they do to bring back players already, what's to say something like this isn't already on the agenda?