many people are lurkers. there are also many that cannot play on US servers.
then there are those that will wait and see how it goes or just feel their pvp isn't up to snuff

i think the last nit it probably keeping most people back. i'd say, don't worry about it. just come on down and if you die, you die. no big deal. it's not like these are your main toons. just run back, res... and get back in it.