To all you asking for server merges: READ THIS

[Mireille]

At the current rate SE is trying to work in regards to meeting their roadmap deadline, it doesn't seem likely that they would have time or extra man power to initiate a merge process, and trust me, it's a process even if it was a good idea.

You make a lot of good points, but I think you are wrong here. In 2.0 we are being ported to an new server architecture which effectivly means the one we are on now is already obsolete. By eliminating say 14 servers you free up resources, hardware, AC, power, sysadmins, etc that can be reallocated to the new architecture which they are building. This may not seem like much but consider that Japan had a power shortage prior to loosing 5% of its power production to an earthquake, and sysadmins are more expensive than most other non managerial IT personal.

create new exciting content that draws the dormant population back again

I don't think SE is going to actively try to draw people back until 2.0. They risk alienating them with a system that is still incomplete. Also based on a recent post by Yoshi-P he considers other MMO as a primary source of players for 2.0. I read that as acceptance that SE has burned its bridges with some of its player base and also that some Final Fantasy fans were drawn into other MMO after XIV fizzled. Some of those players may return on their own once they cool down. I don't think its reasonable for SE to be expected to invest most of their resources into band-aids for a game that is being refreshed into a new version in 10 more months in the hope that some percentage of the people who quit will return before 2.0. I'd personally rather they invest in that version and I accept that I will see a more limited amount of content than I would if they were 100% on developing new content. If 2.0 is as good as it looks from a distance now and it gets good reviews a lot of the fans will return of their own accord. Personally I always saw this game as a great framework that needed to be finished to shine, so I've been willing to take the long view as long as I see SE putting effort into that finishing. I'm grateful for the content they are providing along the way, and I like crafting which gives me a lot to do.

As others below have pointed out, SE is planning to allow for a free server transfer to a much more heavily populated server at the players choice. This should make for enough of a band-aid fix to tide the few of you that are left over for the time being.

SO let THIS and the original post that Yoshi made serve to inform you about what is and what is NOT going to happen.

I sort of like this idea, and it sounds like this is sort of what they intend based on the dev response I saw in one of the merger threads, but its more along the lines of 'you will be merged so pick a server to be merged to or we pick it for you.' Now just imagine it was Arnold Schwarzenegger saying that....