This is not indicative of all of us who are asking for leniency. My sub that I've payed for years lapsed on the late September date because I was in the emergency room (I offered to provide CS with documentation) and I am too cautious to leave credit card information online. Now, because of an unforeseen and unfortunate car accident, I'm stuck under a glass ceiling in a game I've payed hundreds if not thousands of dollars on. My friends are already starting gear progression and all I can do is wait.
Is it fair to segregate your subscriber base this way? No. Is it fair to retroactively give everyone early access? No I wouldn't say that either. But I think the model that was in place here needs a serious second look because it has aggravated a lot of otherwise happy players.