While I'm definitely one of the people considering (keyword: considering. So far I probably won't be) a transfer to Balmung, at the same time I would definitely understand if they just locked it down even from transfers. Doesn't matter what incentives you put in place, so long as almost every internet source relating to this game recommends Balmung and only Balmung to new players and transfers alike, things will not change unless SE puts a hard server lock.

That's half the reason why so many people flood to Balmung. Literally everywhere you look you get told "Balmung, Gilgamesh, or bust." Which isn't a bad thing, it shows people love it there. But if people want others to stop transferring to Balmung we've got to try to get other servers to speak up if SE won't do it.