New? Not really.... Come'on SE

[Xenosan]

Assuming the Sprout icon is there for the purpose of identifying new players so we can help them get started and progress effectively w/o feeling lost.

I don't think it's intended to be a dis guy sux flag, thats cynical MMO community association. I'd like to think SE has this sort of thing to encourage helpful communication for new subscribers

Them not being in a Free Company - the absence of a having <FC_Name> tag - and NOT having a sprouting icon to me is when I would send a /t for FC invite or something

Because otherwise if I see a new sprouting I assume it's just an Alt or RMT,

But if the sprout icon is gone (but still low lvl) and they're not in a FC, then I'd reach and ask if they're looking to join a FC or need pointers.

Don't know it can't be permanently disabled like in FFXI. An oversight. but omg hush critics

[Gunspec]

I've been running high level dungeons for relic weapons all day, with a torrent of mages that don't know how fire 3 and blizzard 3 work. Sprout icon should be growing out of their heads, to indicate that it is filled with dirt.

[Einheri]

One of the first Things I do when I start a new mmo is turn off name plates. I didn't even know there was a leaf icon.

[SpiritMuse]

Decided to level miner, too embarrassed to do dungeons.

See you in 10 hours~

Why are you embarrassed by this icon?

[MihaelB]

This would be very low on their priorities I would assume, though it is something that needs to be looked at among the countless ocean of things

[sirDarts]

The only thing that should be fixed about the leaf icon is that you should not get it on Alts.
Other than that 40 hours is perfectly fine.