I was "abusing" the AFK system also, though I certainly don't think of it as abusing.
Since logging in during nonpeak hours and staying logged in was literally the ONLY way I could play a game I paid for, that's what I did.
Since last week's maintenance, I have stopped doing that because my server has (at worst) had a queue ever since then, and there's no reason for me to stay logged in if I am feasibly able to get in on my own.
Square Enix's decision not to have an AFK timer at the start was not my fault, I was just doing what I had to in order to enjoy the game.
Still, I'm quite happy that they implemented an AFK timer because that makes my life easier in the long run, I just don't think the people who did AFK in order to play the game in the first few weeks should be viewed as some sort of criminal.