Yes, most of us use Linkshell system, you can currently have 8 LH with a max of 128 member (Data center LH coming soon with 68 being max).
Chances are friend rather join a LS and chat then leave Free company. FC don't really contributed much outside of skill and garden (if they let you use it) . Since airship/submarine/chest mostly for top officer anyway.
General Chat is ok but no use much outside of the starting city.
Another reason why so quite because we waiting for next patch since most of us already dry from 4.2