That's where you're wrong. There are players playing right now, who I speak with daily, who play regardless of population. I made the .online command available to everyone, with -real- numbers, because I am making the server for the players who appreciate the server, not for those who think it will die. As I said, it is there for those who like it. It will grow in time, population does not go -> 100 over night.
In every game, new players have to level regardless of the people who are already in the server. Not to mention my server does NOT have any kind of donation gear. The gear people have is what they have earned in game, because they spent the time to play and farm and enjoy the game the way they like.
My server is not an easy server, it rewards those who stick with it.