Being a RPG'r of old, I am on the Ebon Hawk, which is an RP server. It's population is heavy, which has been great. Groups form quickly, item trade is vibrant, and guilds are very active.
As to why people hate on this, I have yet to figure out. Granted this is my first MMO experience (I started with beta testing and early access) so maybe I am missing something. There were a few bumps along the way (server population decline, lack of group finder were the top of my list), however these have been addressed and are working well.
So welcome to the game, I certainly hope you like it. If not (and people may not, which is okay) simply move on.
BTW: If you have questions, or need help, please ask. Most people are more than willing to help.