I actually like it how it is.. to a point..
They need to balance servers so they all have a good mix somehow, Maybe removing servers with hi populations from a specific region from the list for new players in that region..
From the brief time i played XI, i know that being on a mostly JP server had a lot to do with me not sticking out the game longer.

An to avoid the i wana play with my m8 argument, every accounts gets 1 code to get a friend onto there server if its needed that resets 2-3 months after a new account uses it?