Server Lockouts are limiting the growth of this game.

[Silvanoshi]

It's also not true. That's only the time they update the message. The queues shift every 5 minutes or so.

New players who were not invited here by friends, logically would pick an available server. The resolution needed is for those that want to play with their friends. The solution suggested for Exalibur was actually "create character on another server in the data center, then transfer it"

Go take a look at Reddit. You'll see plenty of people who are trying the game for the first time and want to join a populated server.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme..._populated_na/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ulated_server/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ost_populated/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ulated_server/

EDIT: The solution of making a character and paying for a transfer is flawed. Very few players are going to pay for the game, pay a monthly subscription, and then pay AGAIN to get a character on a server the game is physically locking them out of. Cash grab, for sure. Players might do this down the road if they are invested in the game, but very few will from the start.

[SakuraMidori]

SE knows this yet they pick not to put the cash into making more room