yeah i'm currently deciding on what to do as well. sounds like you read up quite a great deal as wellDeleting my account and moving to Server 2. Server 4 is about 250 days into the 300 day server cycle. There is ZERO chance of getting into a good alliance, much less building enough of a population to withstand attacks.
Server 2 was started 2 weeks ago, which gives it about 275 days left before "End Game". I'm starting in the Northeast on that one, too. Coords are 16 | 132.