I just needed to get this idea off my chest, I think it’s the best version of layering, if layering has to exist .
Layering could be part of the world and not a server system event or a UI action. To phase to the next layer they could require the player to be within a rested area and to interact with an innkeeper, or summoning stone.
All the layering issues seem to stem from the fact it happens instantly and anywhere. If you limit the location and the time required to make the transition, I think you fix a lot of the exploit problems. Problems, such as; spamming Gurubashi arena chests, mages AoE farming on multiple layers, abusing herb/ore spawn points and the worse offender saving yourself from a gank.
Distance to travel is a key resource in Classic WoW and this layering system could stay true to the other systems.
Also, add a cast time to the layering transition within meeting stones so if you were using a meeting stone to escape PvP outside of a dungeon if becomes just as preventable as a hearth with twice the cast time would be.
And, to be clear this is for target layering transitions such as joining a party, not the layering that happens automatically when loading a continent.