The only reason it's down and I don't know this for a fact but I'm pretty sure I'm right, the only reason it's down is because SE neutered POL's ability to do anything anymore and that it won't come back up until they implement the final payment methods and finish forcing people to transfer their accounts. That's just my guess and don't ask me why it would ever keep this service down. It's SE. I gave up trying to figure them out a very long time ago.

Or if it fancies you, you could consider the conspiracy theory that they are trying to get you to play FFXIV instead. It has a V on the end. It's newer and better!