I've never played a Stardock game before (and still haven't really yet, natch!) but the tone that Stardock gives as a company does inspire some confidence. Notwithstanding...

There are certain base level requirements which simply must be met. A game which is essentially online only must perform online well. I have nothing buy sympathy for Stardock, which had Easter cut short and now has to work a nearly inoperable game. However, there really isn't excusing the issue. They have admitted the problem and I earnestly believe they will do the utmost to fix it. However, the simple fact is that the contract of having a playable game when it was released was not fully upheld. This is the first new game I have bought where I shelved it the first night to play something else because it simply would not function. People are understandably upset. Posting more topics won't speed the process, but waiting a week or two to use a product you paid for is not an easily dismissable issue.

You don't expect perfection day one, but you do expect reasonable functionality. This did not occur, and people are right to be bothered by this. That said, I think Stardock has handled the PR aspect of this perfectly, and I admire the candid statement of where things are they were willing to give us.