how about having well dedicated admins functioning as commanders? they are the only high level/old players allowed on the servers, and they can organize fights, help in game with any trouble etc. I think that would up the experience a lot for new players.
also, imagine the feeling for a new player to join a real server for the first time, it will be a hole new feeling of "leveling up"
so i would say: mandatory noob server up to firs gen level 18, optional to join up to first gen level 28 (no respeccing, total amount of xp must count), than the have to go to the normal servers