But even if they did open up the servers, what if those people decided to keep playing? it would just make an overpopulated server even more overpopulated. If they switched it back to being locked afterwords, your friends would still be locked out of the server and you would be in the same situation you are in now, or the overpopulation cap would be the issue.

I understand the reasons. But I don't see how they could make it work. Some people might have to jump on a new server to introduce their friends.