1)IL/G.Final/Epilogue but IMO with the last two u would get more people and less bugs.
2)Customs nowdays make the difference,latest servers appears with "NO CUSTOM ITEMS!NO UNBALANCE!" and instead them are unbalanced even without customs and people like me get bored so fast that I don't even give them a try anymore if they don't got customs,something new and unique.
4)Make some commands,automatic events+daily 2 or 3 events by a event gm that should log at least 5days/week..about farm zones I think u should make one safe zone,two zones with higher drops but without guards and one Rb zone where there will be some solo-rb with not bad drops and some other rbs that needs at least 1 pt to be killed and they drop well+give good reputations points or at least scrolls for rep points(in this way clans will fight for rep points in the rb zone:D)..the scroll for rep points can be buyed from custom shop also but it should cost "not low".
3)If is a highrate insert all buffs,if is lowrate just basics,if is midrate dunno:)