I'll say it again here:
Merging is not the solution.
All of you keep thinking of Age 2 solutions which are borrowed from Age 1.
Age 1 solutions for Age 2 do not work. They are totally different.
Why do servers merge? Because the number of active players has dropped too low.
Is this the case on any Age 2 server? I dunno.
How do we get more active players on a server? Simple, send more players to it.
How do we send more players to it? By directing new players to the server or allowing existing players to transfer their account to it.
But new players have no chance on an older server? Wrong. They have just as much chance on a new server. Spenders and Experienced players will ALWAYS crush the new players regardless if they start at the same time on a new server.
Anyway, stop thinking Age 2 mergers and start thinking "How do we sustain a high number of active players?"
And what happens when Age 2 servers die yet AGAIN after the merge? What, merge them AGAIN? Make a L30 Atlantis, then a L40, than a L50? It's just a silly solution. The solution is to create a constant flow of new players (fresh blood) streaming into servers that need it. This can be done by directing new players to Age 2 servers that need a higher player base.