I'm much in the same boat, but for several different reasons. I hate the leve system in it's current form, so even though it's the best way to get experience I largely ignore it.

The two main classes I want to play right now are Thaumaturge and Gladiator, but until they implement the changes regarding physical level and stat allocation I have very little motivation to switch between the two, because I have no interest in wrestling with the stat reallocation process.

The amount of people on is limiting too, but more so the rate of growth when you aren't exploiting leve's is just horrendous so usually I just wander around for an hour or so, see if I can find any new quests I haven't done, then log off for the next few days.

Mostly I am hoping that the changes coming in 1.19 improve the overal experience, I don't think 1.18 is going to touch the problems I have much beyond making leves harder to exploit.

Best thing I can suggest is look for a linkshell, I found one on the server forums here, and while I don't do much in game with them right now, atleast it gives me people to talk to when I am wandering around.