If the server population is too large to support the limited raid content that is classic, Kunark, and you could argue that you could throw Velious in there, then you're left with 2 options:
Option 1: All guilds (C+R) develop a "up next" list and you follow that to the T. If It's XXX guild's week for Inny, then everybody else backs off. This somewhat becomes problematic because of the lengthy respawns, but it at least stays "classic". Will it please "C" guilds? No. Will it please "R" guilds? Maybe...who knows. I imagine they still are left with the decision of whether or not to jump to "C" status or stick with what they're regulated to raid based on the "C/R" raiding that's currently in place.
Option 2: You say "screw classic" and instance specific Raid zones. VP becomes instanced. Hate and Fear become instanced. You'd probably want to instance ToV and you could make the argument of instancing Kael due to Vindy/Statue/Idol/AoW being "hot targets". You'd then also need to instance ST as once there's enough keys, that'll be perma-down.
If you really look back at EQ, the raid content took off at PoP. There was so much content that it could support many guilds raiding. Your "R" guilds were way behind the "C" guilds, and while the "C" guilds focused on PoP (and SSRA/VT), the R guilds were able to really hammer home Kunark, Velious and Luclin. By the time the "C" guilds hit the Elementals, the "R" guilds were starting to work their into PoP.
Really, what a lot of this drama boils down to is that there are too many raiders for the content, and Velious won't actually fix that. While "R" guilds may find Vindy up regularly (8hour respawn), KT, Statue/Idol/AOW will be perma-down, as will TOV and NTOV. The mobs that drop ST keys will be also perma-socked because guilds are going to need to get ST keys.
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