How do you define never played?

What if that level 1 character is an RP alt that glamor wise is fine in the starter gear or gear from the mogstation as they come as level 1 gear? So you can't state level for a period of time.

Inactivity? I know people have said they returned to games where they had lost names due to a policy like this and the forced name change made them quit again. It broke their connection to the game and their character.

So I'm also going to vote no to this policy.

You're seeing an increase in a certain type of name. I know ' features heavily in mi'qote names - someone who fantasia'd may not have been able to name change as that had been disabled due to server congestion so there may have been more say male vieras running around with mi'qote or lalafel or elezen names instead of viera names. Some players may choose to rename with the - if they get married in game to show original last name and new last name. Much like in real life. Or they want a double word first or last name and it's not due to their first choice being taken. You're assuming the reason for the stylistic choice in the name. Have you had any issues creating a character due to the name you wanted being taken?