The only part of the procedure that I don't understand is the closing of the game until an hour before the ticks start. It will be terribly frustrating for people who need to repeat an action they took today but who can't get to a PC tomorrow. Not only that, but if people can't log in at all they'll be more likely to "wander off" and find something else to do - some of them may decide not to come back. If they were allowed to log in they could, at least, catch up with the galaxy forums or alliance channels or other such "stuff".
BTW - this doesn't mean that I agree (or disagree) with the rest of the procedures.
