Nightly latency issues

[worldofneil]

Let's start by pointing out that I work as a System Admin for a nation wide technology firm.

That's nice, but...

Only SE can fix this now by opening a dialog with Comcast, the same way I would open a ticket with Verizon if one of my VPN circuits were not routing corporate traffic correctly.

You clearly understand where the packet loss is, so why are you trying to get one company to fix the problem of the other? As much as Comcast need to change their routing, do you really expect them to just because Square Enix ask? I know I sure as heck wouldn't...

If SE had services/agreements with Comcast then maybe they would have some clout, but we have no evidence they do (and based on their current servers in Canada, it seems likely they have nothing at all to do with Comcast). So the only way SE could possibly influence Comcast is by giving them money (possibly a lot and probably ongoing). Even if they were to do this, where is this money coming from? Player subscriptions?

Should SE have to pay money to Comcast to change their routing for a small percentage of unfortunate players or use that same money for development/hardware that could benefit all players?

What happens if another ISP has a similar routing "issue"? Should SE spend more money there to pay them too?

I do feel bad for the players who have problems and I know I take my own connection for granted (from another country no less!), but we have to blame the right people here and be reasonable with what SE can actually achieve.