When it's a negative number, it's not how many people have to *log out* before you can log in, it's how many people have to *log in* before you can.

I had this problem earlier today. The only way I could log back in was to get lots of new people to sign up for FFXIV.

This is actually a way for SE to increase their player base!

Sign up your friends! It's the only way you can play again!