Been playing Phantasy Star Online games since the Japanese release in December 2000. This is pretty much business as usual. This isn't an online RPG problem. Sega is in their own special category. They've shown an inability to deal with these issues for over a decade, and they've never fully supported a non-Japanese territory properly.
It's going to get extra lulzy for the game. Broomop & Gang will ruin this one just like all the others. Game's been out for a week and they're already causing problems.