I beg to differ with just about everything you said. I run a multiplayer community based around a military simulation game called Arma2 as well as DCS A-10. A good, well thought out, custom mission can go on for weeks while being played exclusively online. Of course, this is with a persistent battlefield and so on. This game, which differs a lot from COD, BFBC2, and other run and gun shooters requires constant teamwork, communication, and cooperation to achieve a mission. This game is NOTHING without the utilization of the TEAM. DCS A-10C, in my most humble opinion, can be played with much the same focus on teamwork. Teamwork isnt for everyone, some people like being Rambo...or in this case Maverick, but some people strive to attain as much knowledge and implement that knowledge as a team, or wing, or flight...however its divvied.
I understand that ED, as a "boutique studio" has a lot on their plate already...but lets not neuter the market here by not allowing those of us who want to play cooperatively online in a server with more than a couple people to do so. Currently, the MP capabilities are severely limited to "listen servers" This, again my my humble opinion, is not the way forward.
I respect your opinion, but you also have to be able to see both sides of the ball and respect the opinion of those whose differ from yours.