Below is a conversation I had with a GM in game, I do hope that this explains the issue, because I've already typed out all this stuff once and the thought of doing it all again makes me was to spoon out my eyes and feed them, which still attached, to leptrotic pirhanas.
Basically, I went to break and remake my LS, as there is a stupid limit of 128 players to an LS and an even more stupid system of not being able to remotely kick players who are offline or who don't play anymore. So a shell has to break and remake every now and then, to clean out the crud. I tried to do this but forgot that unlike FFXI, and even though I've done this 2 or 3 times already since alpha/beta, you cannot break shell without speaking to an NPC. I had the option to "remove" or "retire" the shell, apparently I wasn't supposed to have the "retire" option as I was the LS leader, as I was last 3 times and was on FFXI. Either way, i did indeed have that option and thinking that would kill the LS, I retired from the shell, then realised i could not make a new shell of the same name, Church of Mog, because name was already taken. So then I remember that I had to talk to NPC to get them to break shell, and after having an officer repearl me, I was told I didn't have the authority to break the shell and after looking, it confirms that I'm just a regular pearl holder now, not even an officer, let alone a leader. Pleeeeeease check my game logs to see that 2 hours ago i was indeed the owner and leader of this LS, Church of Mog, on Hyperion server, formerly of Trabia, formerly of Ultimecia, formerly of Carbuncle.
Thanks. Still, I've posted the GM chat too, he was helpful, but ultimately pedestrian.
Rep Deitsu: but yeah =x I made a mistake whilst trying to disband ><;
>> Rep Deitsu: luckily you should be able to see logs n stuff and that fact that 1 hour ago, i was leader of a shell I been leader of 3 times hehe
Rep Deitsu >> I'm sorry to hear that as I know how important a linkshell name is.
>> Rep Deitsu: and back on FFXI also ^^;
Rep Deitsu >> Please, may I ask if you could confirm what happened exactly?
>> Rep Deitsu: yeah, I told all members that are on, Haven, Aelyn, Rygel atc. to meet me by Gogorano, the repair NPC in Uldah
>> Rep Deitsu: when i was going to break shell and remake it, and give Rygel a pearl (as he is pearlholder now, an officer)
>> Rep Deitsu: so I clocked on linkshell and rather than remove, I stupidly though it was "retire" even though I've done this twice before ><;
>> Rep Deitsu: on FFXI you retire shell via the options you get by clicking on your shell in "Linkshell" menu thing
>> Rep Deitsu: on FFXIV you gotta talk to NPC, but it was too late
>> Rep Deitsu: so then I got Rygel to repearl meh =x
>> Rep Deitsu: but now I'm not leader anymono one is !
>> Rep Deitsu: and thing is, we wanted to use the same name as before, Church of Mog !
>> Rep Deitsu: because we are merging with a German shell today ^-^/
>> Rep Deitsu: and so we need space for teh Germans
Rep Deitsu >> Could you confirm that you were the Master of the linkshell when you left it? As a Master, you shouldn't have the option "Retire" displayed for your own linkshell. As you said, you have to talk to the NPC in the Adventurer's Guild in order to disband your linkshell.
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>> Rep Deitsu: oooh, well I can assure you that yes I was indeed master o.O; and any checking into my logs will prove it, so I not worried about frauding or getting banned etc. I love this game too much XD I am 100% telling teh Truth and I'm sure lots of people would vouch also, I told them on our website what day and time we were gonna break and remake
>> Rep Deitsu: but wait
>> Rep Deitsu: I did not talkj to NPC until after I had dropped or rather "retired" pearl
>> Rep Deitsu: then I had a sackholder repearl me, hoping I could THEN talk to NPC to disband it
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>> Rep Deitsu: you said a minute ago that I should not have had "retire" option as LS master... well I'm sorry but that is exactly what happened
>> Rep Deitsu: I definitely had "retire" option, just below "remove" option and above "close" I think
Rep Deitsu >> Rest assured that I believe you. However, I'm afraid that GM cannot destroy any linkshell or set a member as Master, I'm very sorry. Therefore, I would like you not to hesitate to report this issue on our forums at http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv by creating a thread under "In-Game Bug".
thanks for your time.