How does server merges look bad to potential new players?

There a ton of MMOs out there to choose from, and when comparing one MMO to another, a new player is going to want to spend their $ and time wisely.

If you had to pick between a MMO that has server merges 3-4 times a year, to another MMO that is brand new, and isn't having problem (yet), which MMO would you choose? Easy, the brand new one.

Gameplay can speak for itself, but if people are scared to devote time to a MMO that may be dead within less than a year, that gameplay won't be seen.

So, in the process of closing servers, in order to boost population #s, it actually has a negative affect on how potential new players see the game's worth.