Are inactive accounts/characters priority over transfers?

[Discordia]

A better solution would've been to create a holding server to permanently house all inactive accounts. This will allow these players to, at the time of reactivation, choose the server they wish to move to. This takes care of two things: (1) the off chance that their LS moved to another server different from the merged-to server (2) allows them to return normally and not have a feeling that they need to reactivate during this period "just to transfer".

What puzzles me is why SE have come to either of the two methods when there were a myriad of other options. This hasn't been the first time SE has fumbled over this issue.

Edit:

Another simple solution would be to not bother with a "server status" page and just have an open application for all players, on a first-come, first-served basis. Allow players to provide up to 3 main choices and then to check off one of two options after that: (a) IF all options are not able to be filled, leave me on my current home server to be automatically merged (b) Be placed on a waiting list for one of the 3 aforementioned choices and agree to risk being randomly placed if none of those choices can be filled.