For all we know, it could be years before the shards are actually merged, if hey ever are. Look at how much trouble they're having keeping things stable with three! In the meantime, they really should give us a way to transfer. It sucks if you're not able to play with your friends.
The point is, you shouldn't have to wait until you're level 60 for the game to stop being too easy. Getting to 60 should be a challenge in and of itself, you know? The dungeons are cool, but we need more deadly traps, better secrets, and tougher creatures.