I wonder what 'Early Access' meant to SE compared to the players and devs. Were they expecting a limited number of people compared to the current active playerbase would pre-order and demand access, and were overwhelmed by the response? What exactly was going through their mind when they decided to create content gates that led to overall instability?

Early Access as a Marketing Gimmick is raw corporate greed. A lot of people are going to rush to this point and say "This is it! This is the reason! This is why we're all mad!" And to be honest, I'd have to agree - this looks like a pure cash grab that sacrificed customer experience/service in the name of the almighty dollar. SE, that's how you look right now.

Wish you devs - those who love the game not for money but for what it is - stuck in the middle of this current quagmire the best of luck - the best, get sleep and stay fed and watered. You're going to need it for release.

~Disappointed, but not giving up.