/signed

Well presented post. Thanks.

It is nice to see there was some acknowledgement from the developers that this is indeed a problem. The seek/search mechanics together with a lack of content are the two things keeping this game the sad, anemic thing it is going on a year now.

The ability to easily form parties should be part of the bedrock foundation of an MMO. I hope the current options are not considered adequate, because they aren't. I'm not struggling along with the current tools while waiting for better ones. I'm not using the current tools. I'm not forming/joining parties. I'm not meeting new people in the game. And I'm sure I'm not alone.

Please move this from "very important" to "most important." If there are vexing "server issues," well it's past time to get over them.