The other problem is that since this is an MMO, it has the added social pressure to want to optimize the usage of time. Basically, it comes down to having the knowledge of doing X things each day is optimal, and missing a day means there is no way to catch up to others because the wheel of time spins and keeps going forward without the player.

The only way to really make island sanctuary a casual experience is to detach the entire notion of resets and make it just like a single player experience. They got to let people catch up or move at their own pace.