I applaud and appreciate your use of PR tactics with regards to this issue. Lets keep in mind that any RP's that outside of the PC's, where people choose to initiate their own 'RP quests' or RP tasks within the game that may require the use of combat with NPC's for either their defeat or unique drops would be excluded. Any questing that involves the acquisition of specific drops from NPC's is also negated. As far as I can tell, the only capable crafting is that of weapons, which surely isn't very appealing at a time when they can not be used. Mining for wealth would be unaffected, but mining for crafting materials would probably be effected as prior. I'd like to see you cook a Trepor egg or clacker leg when you can't fillet one from an NPC. Dueling outside of 'friends' tends to childish and testosterone and or childlike mantality based; meaning friends will train and practice and allow heal, but others will tend to go "1 r 1337 u R d13 n00b!!oneeleven H4h4H4". As far as GM events, one apparently is not easily wise to it's existance, unless stumbled upon, I have seen it stated the only way to come across one is through word of mouth or stumble upon it in game as they are not posted or made public knowledge; when most player are already trying to train or complete quests or involved with their own RP's. Of course, I guess being at odds with other things to do may allow one more time to stand around the plaza and happenchance across one... or just log out...
 
Now please understand this is just a debate based rebuttal in like kindness to yours, please read on to get the real meaning out of all of this nonsense.

Now I can respect that other players have surely dealt with far longer downtimes. However, I think you miss the vital point of what upsets people most about these NPC issues (at least from what I have seen); 'The powers at large' ask of the players to report bug issues, improper chat and blatant OOC offenses and the like. Players tend to follow up on this. Yet, when does someone follow up with the players? "Attention, we will be running some tests and you may experience such and such for so and so length of time, thanks for your understanding." It's not that there are issues to be overcome that is the 'beef' of myself, or the people I play with; but the fact no one shows they care to treat us the way they have asked to be treated in such regards. If a little more care was given to letting people know either when problems can be expected, or once they happen, when they may be fixed, I am sure you would find not only less posts in the forum about such issues, but a happier populace of players. And if these problems are just random, maybe more checks can be done where someone can make sure things are up and running. After all, no one seems to think it to much to ask us to post on the bug tracker (per the MOTD for the game) or on the forum, so why would it be any different in reverse (especially after when we do post, as suppossedly desired, we recieve a redderick response that is meant to belittle us)?

I thank you in advance for your serious consideration to these words.

I have completed this quest. I did it first with pepper, which she told you how she wanted it cut. She accepted the item, but the quest did not complete due to not enough skill in my product. I tried later when skill was higher, and did the meat. When she gave me the pepper, she did indeed give instruction on how to cut it, however on the meat she gave no instruction. I tried cooking it thinking "well who wants raw meat". Well, she wouldn't take it after cooking, cutting, etc etc. I had to buy more meat from Kada El's and take back to retry. This time no cooking, just tried various cutting and approaching her with product at each stage, at the stage she wanted (once again, that she never revealed) she accepted the raw cut product, and skill was high enough to finish quest (Thank Laanx). My suggestion, cut peppers  for her, maybe she is a vegitarian.