Sorry, I totally glazed over the part where you said a different server and even faction lol.

I personally would go with 1st plan. I just hate granting 30 levels to low character when it sooo easy to get them to at least lvl 20+ in no time at all.

Also currently blizz has stated that the levels do not disappear when you hit 60 like the faq orig stated. They only go away at the end of the 90 days. Which means in theory you can level your toons past 60 and grant levels past 60 (you stop accruing @ 60 and can only grant up to your recruits level). For example you level your Hunter+Shaman to 66 on both. You have 29 levels to gift from the shaman to any toon on the vet account. Now you can either use them to level a newbie to 30 instantly or take the time to level a toon to 36 and have them boosted instantly to 65. I would much rather do that.

I know my /played time on my 2 shammies is who are almost 40 is just over a day now. ( I too get easily distracted lol)