I think the XI-onry crowd has a hard time grasping how global channels work. It seems to me that they're applying responses they currently anticipate in a system that is far more mature than what we have now. Shouting hits a small number of people. A LFP channel can reach everyone.

Why don't people use the search function? Many do, but the issue is that it is a passive way to find a party, whereas shouting (or a global chat) is an active way to find party members. Given the immediate gratification desired by our generation, you can probably guess which is the more preferred method of recruitment.

Keep both the active and passive methods, but improve on their implementation. I'm all for bringing this game out of the stoneage, so I am pro-global channels the way they are implemented everywhere else (tune in/out option featured).