The lesson learned here is to just never take time off for MMOs or expansions.

Occurrences like Shadowbringers going off without a hitch is a rarity. Both Heavensward and Stormblood had messy, unstable launches and a lot of people I know regret taking the PTO for them. Games make mistakes. Development hiccups happen. I know it sucks, but that's just the reality of the world.