Let's assess this logically.

[Zabuza]

So how do you explain this difference? They are cutting their profits purposely or what?

As of April of 2019, SE had created one new data center for NA and EU, as well as expanding their server infrastructure. https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...d1ebf675536bb9

COVID started sweeping through the world not too long after that, at which procuring servers became increasingly difficult. Whatever the reason, I doubt they purposefully cut into their own profits to stick it to non-Japanese players.

[nelothi]

Not even if the complaint itself is unreasonable? Asking them to just get more servers when it is literally impossible is not unreasonable?

You honestly think that after they gave a media tour to a bunch of NA streamers, and launched NA advertisements? Moreover, you believe a business does not care about what could increase their profits?

1. True, I can't disagree with you here. Assuming they're not working on this though when it affects their growth may be incorrect. I don't imagine this is a problem that they could just ignore. Either way, I can't comment because you are correct in that they haven't released a statement declaring as such.
2. I'd have to disagree here, as EA was not any additional payment. They're refunding the sub time that was lost(and possibly more) to players. Given the amount of players subbed, this already gives a hit to their profits.

The issue with giving game time as a repayment of time lost, is that it doesnt repay what was lost at all.
The money saved is also a moot point on an individual level. if youre someone who will be playing FFXIV for months to come, youre basically being refunded $3.50 over the course of.. however long you sub for.
Basically, if youre going to play for 1 month and then just stop.. the refund might be an adequate response to lost play time. If youre continuing to sub for upwards of a year... that money means nothing at all.

You also have to think of other things that they could have done to ease this issue.. there are some GLAIRING issues with their non gameplay related systems...

- the mog station is awful. even after the rework.. its still bad.
- the loadstone is also awful.
- buying the game... an awful experiance.. the FIRST experiance anyone has with this game is convoluted and annoying..
- the launcher is bad. We log into the launcher to launch the game.. our game session is already validated at this point..
why is it that when we do get a 2002 error we are completely booted from the game and we have to launch the launcher, log in, and start the login process for the game again..

the session is valid already! WHY ISNT THERE A RECONNECT BUTTON WHEN YOURE DISCONNECTED?!

Also, it was said by yoshi that 2002 happens with
- a login server queue over 17k (or some other large number)
- unstable internet.

why are people getting 2002 errors with stable internet and queues in the 2ks..

Something is severely wrong with their network architecture for this to be happening..
theres a reason why most other MMOs tend to have no log in errors other than the actual world server...

[Zabuza]

The issue with giving game time as a repayment of time lost, is that it doesnt repay what was lost at all.
The money saved is also a moot point on an individual level. if youre someone who will be playing FFXIV for months to come, youre basically being refunded $3.50 over the course of.. however long you sub for.
Basically, if youre going to play for 1 month and then just stop.. the refund might be an adequate response to lost play time. If youre continuing to sub for upwards of a year... that money means nothing at all.

You also have to think of other things that they could have done to ease this issue.. there are some GLAIRING issues with their non gameplay related systems...

- the mog station is awful. even after the rework.. its still bad.
- the loadstone is also awful.
- buying the game... an awful experiance.. the FIRST experiance anyone has with this game is convoluted and annoying..
- the launcher is bad. We log into the launcher to launch the game.. our game session is already validated at this point..
why is it that when we do get a 2002 error we are completely booted from the game and we have to launch the launcher, log in, and start the login process for the game again..

the session is valid already! WHY ISNT THERE A RECONNECT BUTTON WHEN YOURE DISCONNECTED?!

So whatever other bonus they have to give must be universal, as people would find a way to complain about that as well.

-Agreed.
-Agreed.
-Agreed.
Personally, I think the 2002 error should not even occur and it should just be the queue. I acknowledged that people griping about this issue were doing so understandably. It should be fixed. Again, I'm not a white knight. I'm just saying that asking SE for the impossible and rushing to judgment based off their inability to achieve the impossible is not reasonable, and if you're at that point, perhaps you should take a deep breath. They can't make servers pop out of thin air.

[Qyla]

7 days of game time = $0 value to me. It is a gesture and that is all. Give everyone that per-ordered a giant Cactur mount holding a 2002 Error banner...then at least I would know they cared. How about an earring glamour making light of the issue? Game time is just so 'easy'.