So, we have the 50 worlds. I think the current connection cap is 85 players. It’s been 100 or more, at times. This gives us the math of 4250 max concurrent players I mention. If I’m off on the current cap it doesn’t change that number, much.
We’re getting to automatic world generation here …
Right now you pick a region and spawn into the existing, public universe. Obviously but it means you’re connected to things and this is important.
Even with the known caveats about the early access phases and trophies, the numbers on achievements like “made it out of the sanctum” are very telling. “Made it to level 10” 
We have to remember that every player has to get through it, and then we have to remember that the system works hard to spread out the new players. The idea of new planets popping up as needed does actually not support any sort of smooth integration with “the universe” and while some players will still get plopped next to a major city, the very next player might get started on a bare-ass new world.
Without any doubt, managing expectations here is mega-critical. If Boundless is about the universe, then something like the tutorial planet, some interactive plotting stuff, and some sort of early engagement is critical. Also auto-popping new planets based on a single threshold, or simple matrix, is not a good idea for a ton of reasons.
Also if this is “the way” then there are definitely some layers that can be added to make social integration, and engagement with the universe into a very powerful resource. But if the team behind the game doesn’t want to develop and maintain those sort of layers then focusing the onboarding towards “owning your own universe” and linking up private servers has a different sort of thrust.
And that’s reflected in both how you present the ecosystem, and the in-game NPE.
@monty1 thanks for the remarks and I so much agree that it should be. It is right now and I appreciate the things you’ve said so far regarding your planned methodology for transitioning towards maintenance, then growth. Options, So many options … 
Right now it’s great to get some rope. Also, a lot of posts right now I’m catching up.