New member with question about starting areas

[Xelita]

Did Project 1999 return it to the version with the original starting areas?

Honestly, I haven't played Everquest since I created a new character in 2005 and found it in some sort of hack dungeon that was attempting to power level my character when what I really wanted was to play a different race, starting in that faction area, and flesh out the character through roleplay. Then I found myself in the Nexus...

I was so disgusted and disappointed that I canceled my subscription to Norrath immediately. Alas, even after all of these years, I have not found a MMO that I enjoyed as much as Everquest so here I am... Still downloading the necessary files so I can jump back into Norrath and begin adventuring anew.

But the question plagues me!