That's the thing, an AFK timer is pointless. You can easily get around it, and when the servers are fully operational, there's going to be far less people AFKing because logging in won't be a problem.
SE knows that, it's why they called an AFK timer a placebo solution and they're focused on fixing the servers first, because the servers are the actual problem and everything else is a product of that problem (like a large amount of players AFKing to avoid being locked out). Until now they kept dismissing the idea of an AFK timer.
But hey, the majority of people want one, so if anything this shows us that they're listening to the players (or humouring them as the case may be).
It's not like SE has never encountered AFKers before, it's why there is a timer on dungeons after all, they're just fully aware that it's not going to fix anything with regards to the server issues.
SE knows that, it's why they called an AFK timer a placebo solution and they're focused on fixing the servers first, because the servers are the actual problem and everything else is a product of that problem (like a large amount of players AFKing to avoid being locked out). Until now they kept dismissing the idea of an AFK timer.
But hey, the majority of people want one, so if anything this shows us that they're listening to the players (or humouring them as the case may be).
It's not like SE has never encountered AFKers before, it's why there is a timer on dungeons after all, they're just fully aware that it's not going to fix anything with regards to the server issues.