There is no way for a server split to work without extreme customer backlash. If people couldn't handle two days of Raubhan savage and Pipin extreme, gods help ya if you try to force a move on them. That said, it's a shame that this is the case. A forced split from the existing serfvers--essentially social dynamite--is the only way I think we have hope of seeing any real improvement.

1. Message all players who have characters on the servers that are to be terminated both via e-mail, on mogstation and in game.

2. Give 30 / 60 / 90 days for them to select where to transfer their character(s) among a selection of pre-determined worlds. This would give people time to plan for the move and would hopefully help large communities not get shattered.

3. Offer some form of compensation or transfer for things like housing, apartments, airships, etc.

4. Grant all players who actively take part in the move--i.e. selecting a new world for their character(s) with worthwhile compensation for positively and actively taking part in resolving this problem.

6. Move unclaimed / unselected characters to whichever world SE desires since their player did not actively choose to take responsibility for them.

...And there you have it. The huge servers are dispersed, people have enough time to sort things with friends / fc / community, people get compensated for the annoyances of these actions and rewarded for actively taking part.