True about server load. But ping is ping. And they have lower ping, but if the server load is the main issue, then we will c the ping problem when server loads isnt a problem anymore.
The best is ofcourse new better servers in EU and new better servers for JP and US/CA.

Is the game capped at a connection speed? Anyone have any information on this ? If I member correctly FFXI was capped. But still JP players could claim NM's easier then ppl outside JP. Since they had lower ping. And this is still an issue in FFXIV now. Maybe not the biggest issue as you describe Shneibel, US players also lagg. But ping is ping. And you will never have the same ping if your not on the same place with the same ISP.