My wife recently returned to eq2. I was also thinking of returning. Is it true that you can't use the broker if you are free to play? If so, this seems like a poor policy. I understand the need to entice people to pay. That should be done by adding value, not by punitively making the game suck if you don't pay. I can't imagine playing this game without broker access.
If your account is old enough, you can buy but not sell on broker without buying the ability (for limited use, I believe) or be a member and use it anywhere, buying or selling and not have to be at a broker as you do if a Silver account (which is no longer available, but still grandfathered in).
They sell broker tokens. But I agree with you. Even unsubscribed last year I spent over a grand on the game. Went gold this year to see if I save some cash. Lol