Okay, just to throw in some positive thinking here ...

Alpha phase 1 starts at end of the month. If lucky, giving some credit to internal stress testing, Alpha phase 2 may start 2 weeks to a month after phase 1. At that time, more general population will be accepted into the testing, in other words, a larger base "playing" their char. Once the necessary global stress test are completed, which can take place quickly because more likely the focal issues here are likely be more server related, beta can start.

So all in all, we may only see a 1-2 month downtime before the closed/open beta phase begins. If such is the case, then a postponed char save point really does not add much benefit.

Heck, we can dream, can we?

jc