Maybe you just need to get used to it?
I have honestly not noticed any of the problems or issues you are having.
I like the chat system - either public, team, guild, alliance, trade and whispers chats are available. You can switch these on and off as you see fit, like for instance the Trade channel in Kamadan if you are not interested.
You have a Friends list you can add people too and Ignore as well. It also retains a history of old team members and trade partners.
Other than that, you can ask and just say something in whatever chat channel is relevant. You may have to learn when to use which ones.
Most people talk in Team chat when in a team, or Guild chat when in Guild or Public when you are alone and no where else. Trade is obvious and so is Alliance, in addition to Whispers.
I am not interested to know what quests people are doing, since I am either doing my own thing or in a team with people going somewhere anyway, so I know where I am going.
But then again, I know GW pretty much in and out, so this might be different for you too.
If you are in trouble or whatever, then you are out in an instance and doing some targeting CTRL + SpaceBar or CTRL + doubleclick might help to show people something.
