It sounds as if some random MBAs said that they really need that server-side undefeatable copy protection, then balked at the price of actually purchasing enough resources for it and decided to skimp on that.
I'd put good odds that server allocation was a very high level decision balancing the expected backlash
They knew Amazon rating / word of mouth is going to put a massive hit on the LaunchDay+1 sales anyways, so what do they care if it actually works once you've handed over your cash?
If EA's usual response to criticism means anything, we'll be waiting a loooooong time...
>It will be hard for them to recover after a huge mistake/strategy like this.
You're kidding, right? They'll just release Call of Modern Madden 5: Battlefield Part 2 and the fanboys will eat it up, horrid DRM and microtransactions and all.