I tend to solo queue a lot or get in a small group of one or two. If you see a good player, it never hurts to ask if they are in a group, and if not, if they would want to join you. My typical response if I happen to be in a group is to tell them to put me on their friends list and whisper me every once in awhile to see if I am free. You'll find a good amount of decent players are willing to queue up with others if they haven't already been snatched up.
I play a lot in both 50s and sub 50s, on both sides. You get a good mix of good and bad matches, it's the nature of random queuing. I haven't rerolled on any other server and really haven't even thought about leaving. I have a sorc on Pot5, but I haven't bothered getting her past the starting planet since I am quite happy here. Both sides have a good mix of skilled players. You aren't going to win every match and you need to go in knowing that. Sure it is frustrating when you seem to get the crappiest pugs on the server against a good group. Just keep at it and giving it your all because not every game is going to be like that.