Trial ExpiringFollow

My free trial is expiring next week and I'm trying to decide whether to deactivate my content ID or not. I have leveled: whm20, rdm15, blm12.

My biggest concern is finding people to get exp with. I will end up seeking for a party for hours and will not receive any invites. Is this normal? Or am I just playing at the wrong time? Due to my schedule my prime playing time is on weekday afternoons EST.

I see Lakshmi is the 2nd most active server, but am I just joining ffxi too late and am too low of a level to really play this game?

Pretty much.

If you're intending to take WHM up as a main, my advice would be to try and find some higher level friends who will let you tag on Abyssea runs when you reach 30. You'll be of pretty much no help other than a Raise when someone dies at first, but gradually as you collect cruor you will be able to contribute by assisting as a chest opener until your level rises high enough to be useful.

It's going to be argued that you shouldn't have to level this way, but the truth of the matter is that EXPing in this game is pretty much all Abyssea nowadays, and people will either just solo+FoV or SMN burn their way to 30 so that they can enter Abyssea for the rest of their levels. That being the case, if you do intend to keep playing, you'll want to pick up the Abyssea add-ons if you don't have them already. You'll want to start stocking traverser stones (self-renewing items that grant you Abyssea "time") as soon as possible.