"I love this game and dev team, but at this point, I think refunds are in order...
Look, I know the team is working hard and apologizing, but the fact of the matter is that they have sold a product to many members of a consumer base who simply cannot access it."

This is very true. The law states that if the product is not working, consumers can take that product back to the retail store where they purchased it. Online sellers are also obligated to refund the defective products. At this point, anyone who invested in the game and cannot log in due to the congestion/failure of SE to adequately cure this issue in a timely manner should be refunded.

Let them all go get refunds, more room for the rest of us with renewed subscriptions.

The above is based on the law, so any dispute on that issue is hot air.