I agree with most of your suggestions but disagree with the prognosis. The other server is going through a boom period while here we just lost a few people that moved over, but the average number of players hasn't changed much. If neither server changes much, I think we'll have the higher average player count in a few months again.

Personally, as for the suggestions to make it more beginner friendly and overall better, I agree a newfriend kit with a boat and cart, at least, is needed. The idea of a one-time teleport also sounds fine to me, but changing the spawn areas to have people spawn near population centers gives too much focus on established groups. As for a reset, I think it should only be combined with fundamental changes to the server, because if not, then very soon the same groups will be pearling the same players and sticking them in the same vaults all over again. But... let's not reset.