[Tee]

Not to say I don't want someone to explain how the teleporter is unfair. I'm just confused by the argument.

TL:DR
No teleporter == everyone /home. No one actually explores out from spawn. World already has players all over the map.

I still believe that this is a better outcome. At least if players explore from their /home realms, it is far more likely that they will purchase land around them that they may then preserve or incorporate into their builds.

If the teleporter is active for the first few days, the chances are far higher (IMO) that a player will just repeatedly random teleport until they find a valuable biome (clay mesa; ice spike; whatever), purchase it and strip it of all it's valuable materials - because it's not next to their home realms, and they don't have to look at the stripped land afterwards. Players are less likely to denude realms that they live next to.

[miniKAT]

Its not fair to new players. They have to walk farther and all the vets will just be heading out from /home.

[Bu1ld0g]

Its not fair to new players. They have to walk farther and all the vets will just be heading out from /home.

Have you played on the server recently?
There are free realms within 4-500 blocks of spawn nowadays.
And as for vets that's the whole point, to explore your own local area. I know I will be.