Criteria
 

When trying to choose which server to set up an account on, what things do you consider when making this decision? Population? References? Which client the server uses? What things should I consider?

How you want to play.

If you want live like or custom or easy or fast xp or classic or some combination there of.

I don't usually put that much thought into it. I play on multiple servers and they have many differences. It just depends on my mood at the time. I can always create a new character somewhere else. *shrug*

You can get some pretty good information from the server list here:

http://www.eqemulator.org/index.php?pageid=serverlist

Just click the view link next to the server and most give some basic info on the server.