I think your issues may reflect the population on your server (the OP). I have noticed many times the people who complain of a lack of people are from the same servers. I know that my server at least has a decent sized population - there are always people lagging up Ul'Dah and any of the more popular camps. It might not be as populated as some other games, but I don't feel like there is ever a dire lack of people to find groups with. I also don't see a problem selling items in my bazaar - I check daily to refill my retainers and usually half of the items I put in my own "over my head" bazaar sell as well. I sell at the going rate as much as possible.

I don't that doesn't help the OP's situation, since Trabia seems to get mentioned often as one of the more empty servers. /comfort