Quote Originally Posted by Rhoewyn View Post
Exactly. This is not about individuals its about established communities. If your server is closed (mine is probably 50/50) why should several hundred people on your new destination have to relearn who "player_x" is on server y? This is not about a 1 v. 1 decision. Servers are communities. The most fair decision for the community is, the first player with an identity in that community keeps it for the sake of the community, period. This is especially compelling since it seems the most robust communities are going to remain whole. Forget level, forget account start date, forget VIP v. F2P, etc. If Brandy has had an identity in their midst known as Beaniemooch or Deorwyn, the entire community of Brandy should not be forced to re-learn who that is.

Is that fair for the individual? perhaps not. Is it fair for the community? Obviously so. If not, what am I missing?
I agree with this.

It worries me greatly that my characters might get renamed, and it worries me even more that I'll one day log in and several of my many LOTRO friends might be called something else while strangers will walk around with the names of my friends and I won't know who is who

You wouldn't know who you can trust anymore