Honestly they don't have an excuse for "didn't forsee the demand".

They can easily mine the player data and see how many people are eligible for housing and have the gil on their characters yet don't have a house. The current wards are clearly not enough. If they have not analysed the data then clearly they are deliberately creating a shortage. They want to see players fighting for housing. They want that publicity.

Up to now they have done nothing that proves otherwise.