I just started playing FF14 a week ago, and not knowing better, I chose Mateus server.

Mateus is deserted. I'll run through areas and never see 1 other player. I started googling and found out that Mateus is considered a "low population" server. I had no idea when I picked this one.

Square said I had two options. 1) They can erase my character and I can start over or 2) i can pay $18 to switch servers. This seems like crap to me. I don't want to start over. I made it to level 18 in the beta, got wiped, and now 27 so I don't want to start over AGAIN. I just paid $40 for the game, $13 per month sub now, and I have to pay $18 to switch to a world with other players in it? I was surprised they wouldn't give me a one time waiver since I didn't know. Does anyone have experience with this, have any suggestions for me, or has ever done a transfer and managed to get the fee waived?