This is a disingenuous position to take.

A choice between running content in a timely manner, and NOT running content in a timely manner is not really a choice — technically you are choosing between doing something and not doing something, but that's not the same qualitative choice as doing something with people you know and doing something with strangers.

The first instance- doing something in a limited amount of time vs. needing over an hour to an hour and a half just to find a group results in a game that is far more exclusionary than choosing simply choosing between friends and strangers.

While I agree that LFG/LFR is not soley responsible for the dissolution of community, it's not helping the issue. That being said, I also think those two things (LFG/LFR) are essential to the longevity of the game, especially as population dwindles due to age and a greater spread of MMO options.

As Nethie's non-statement says, they need to do both. I don't think they are right now though, nor do I see it as a particular priority for them — they tried with guild perks and darkmoon, but that doesn't seem to be sticking. Guild perks turned into a opportunistic nightmare, and Darkmoon gets old FAST.

Things that could help (in my opinion...which is just that, opinion, so take with grains of salt):
1) as others have said, the system could prioritize grouping with same-server folks
2) cross-realm guilds, this is kinda happening allready with off-game sites cropping up
3) lift the real-id requirement for crossrealm friends
4) lift the faction communication barrier. let real faction rivalry flourish on a given server