How? Why? I'm so disillusioned.

[True-to-Caesar]

No one is left behind because data center travel exists. You can visit as much as you want, it's not a "you can only data center travel once a week" type system. The more socially active FCs also tend to have Discords so you can be in constant touch (or at least as much as you want) that way then data center travel when the FC is holding an event.

In the end, the player has to decide if having a house is worth the small inconvenience of having to data center travel to play with friends/FC on their old world. The OP sounds like one who would find it worth it.

When you’re not a direct member of the FC and left for housing, things tend to go quiet. It’s just not the same, world travel or not.

I still have contacts with a few friends but, once you’re out, outside of close friendships it’s radio silence.

[LaylaTsarra]

When you’re not a direct member of the FC and left for housing, things tend to go quiet. It’s just not the same, world travel or not.

I still have contacts with a few friends but, once you’re out, outside of close friendships it’s radio silence.

Must not be good friends then. I moved a Gilga alt to Hali and DC travel everyday to PVP with fiends on Siren. We have crossworld linkshells so we can all talk to one another. I did that on Gilga (this alt was born on Siren) and do it on Dynamis now. Sure FC chat isn't there but my friends are in those linkshells and the only thing I can say is missing is a FC buff but leveling is so easy nowadays those buffs aren't really much of a factor to begin with.

[Daeriion_Aeradiir]

When you’re not a direct member of the FC and left for housing, things tend to go quiet. It’s just not the same, world travel or not.

I still have contacts with a few friends but, once you’re out, outside of close friendships it’s radio silence.

Linkshells, CWLS, if they truly are your friends, they'll join in a heartbeat. If they won't, then that says quite a lot about your 'friendship', doesn't it?
I am on Gilgamesh, but so many of my friends are on Crystal, so I spend a lot of time over there. I have absolutely zero troubles keeping contact, communicating, etc with my Crystal friend group.