Very Simple Solution to all of this:
Get rid of the 3000000 bazillion slot EU1 - which propably hasn't been full for 100000 years.
Introduce more different Battletypes and -servers instead and finally get rid of the dead EU6.
1) The Kings' battle (100 Slots) - Min. 10k Equipment Value / No Restrictions / HA and HX + Full Ranged
(basically what eu1 is right now)
/ vast Maps / Plains / Fields
(basically what eu1 is right now)
+
Bannerbalance (Propably the clans' choice)
2) The Earls' battle (75 Slots) - 20k max. equipment value / No Horse Ranged / Mixed Maps + Bannerbalance
(Good for skilled players that seek a casual, yet demanding game)
3) The Civil war (75 Slots) - 10k max. equipment value, only close combat / City Maps / NO BANNERBALANCE)
(A Place for new players and old ones. A K:D / Levelbased Balancing could counter the abuse by veteran-clans)
That way you'd give new players a place to have at least equally equipped enemies.
You would also give older Players a better time testing their strength and skill.
Because basically the only choices we have atm are:
Play on EU1 (Getting shot at or being raped / if there's even players on... yesterday for example i was playing on eu1 at like 1am with 20 players on - and 3 Horsearchers.... if it's not even fun for an old my old friend with some decent equipment and kind of a working skillset how should this ever be fun for a new player)
Play on EU2 (Well. It's not battle... and therefor not using the full potential of the fighting mechanics / Skillsets)
Play on EU3 (With yourself...)
Play on EU6 (With a ball and 1-3 drunk or deathmatching people)
Play on EU7 (...a multiplayer game with bots...yeah right.)
OR : Don't play (My Choice number 1 the past few days - and propably the conclusion many new potential crpg-gods came to after giving crpg a shot... like literally)
It's time to make this interesting again.
Deleting a class, or rendering it useless might be one way. But i'm sure there's others.