Help Areas don't really help anyone. The area is lagged, and new residents don't really know what they need to ask of mentors dotted around the place. Give them info on a HUD (that is up to date and usable), and let them explore, and go to Help Areas if they choose to.

New residents don't know what they need to be asking questions about - mentors are no good for the very new born in Second Life. Mentors are much better equipped to be helping those who at least know what they need to be asking - the learning curve is then easier for them to overcome.

Funnel the new born to places with few people, easy to load textures, and better load balancing. Make their new world grey for as little time as possible. Let them explore to find what info they need to have - THEN let the resident Mentor groups help them on their way.

I was a mentor - but I did my work without my tag on, and never at a hub, I preferred to help those who knew the direction of help they needed.