We are paying for a game. Beta we didn't pay for. To tell someone that is paying they have to log off so others can log in isn't the way to fix the problem. That will cause them to lose paying customers. On the other hand kicking people who are AFK after so long would be better. They aren't playing they are taking up your spot.
They said they don't want to use auto afk because FFXI doesn't have it? Well hmm this is FFXIV we can't turn ourselves into little roadside markets like FFXI which is why it didn't have the auto kick. They just need to fix the issue. Not make it worse by booting players who are actually playing