The server restrictions is both preventative, in that overloaded servers aren't crashing and causing all kinds of other nasty errors(looking at you 3102), and to ensure that the people who are able to connect have an enjoyable playing experience.

Also, hardware isn't always the problem, though in this case it very much seems to be the issue. I think the "simplest" thing to do would be to just open up 1-3 more servers and enable free server transfers for a period of time so that friends and such could all disperse onto less congested servers.