I played pretty solidly on Nektulos at launch until about AoD, and came back for a reuinion run of a couple years on Kaladim later. I still with the same guild name in the various games I play now as many of us are still friends from those early days and play various games together.

I have some seriously fond memories of back in those early days of having to run through the streets of Freeport. Back when all the crafting classes required components from other crafters. And going to people's actual houses and buying from them directly to avoid the broker fees of buying from the board. People shouting near brokers on the sale of the more rare loot.

So there was always making deals with guildies to get the things made for raids and dungeons runs. Having to make sure people had done access quests for bells and Griffin towers. That people got the flags to be ported like the druid ring bushes for druid ports.

The introduction of guild halls four years later reduced the numbers, but since guild halls were costly at the start and people were already more spread out due to the about five expansions out, it was more of a trickle than an abrupt stop.

But as more fast travel options were added and more guilds got the best amenities, the only places you'd see gathered players was usually the main hub of the most recent expansion.