the problem with live-like servers, and this is my opinion of why people flock to instant 50 servers is....
Freeshards come and go so rapidly that people feel putting in any of their time building up a character is a waste for them, as majority of the time they will get to level 50, and the server will be gone.
As for putting the work in to actually MAKE a live-like server, for me, i would be disappointed that the shard will more than likely never have enough population to actually well... populate it.
i code for the fun of it, and the learning experience, but i still get disappointed if no one plays

Lets have some fun.