AH/token issues

Hi folks,

I played Wow from near launch through the peak of WoTWK and have just returned to try the game out in 2024 - classic, not retail. Having just resubscribed about 5 days ago, I'm unable to use the AH or mail system, or buy a token. Is this a known issue for 'new' players? Level 12 and no add-ons, as yet.

Beyond that, is the Classic community still sizable or very much a niche thing at this point? My maxed characters in retail and retail itself feels very off but before I invest time in re-levelling in classic I'd like to know if there's an active guild/raiding community within Classic, still. I also assume that Classic and Retail are wholly separated, such that there's no option to move my old characters and especially currency across?