As someone who played in the U.S. for 500+ hours then moved to the EU, I can honestly say that it's noticeable. It's a different game set that I really don't want to be bothered learning along with all the other hickups with the game.

This EU player will just wait until the game gets an update that I like before I play again.

Bartender, I'll have whatever he's having.

Apparently you'll only get on the Irish server if there's enough EU players online and in game. But most EU players have the same experience as the OP. So less EU players stick with the game and stop playing. So there's less EU players.... I think you can see where I'm going here.

The Irish server is passed out drunk all the time, obviously. That and dodging IRA bombings.

Russian players are more or less in sync. That's why EC has such strong Russian presence I guess.

I still have no idea why the EU server is Ireland when Ireland is nowhere near the middle to EU players locationwise, why cant they go Frankfurt, feels as if someone said :
"Hey guys lets make a EU server" says one guy,
"Why don't we put it in Australia" says the other,
"Yeah lets do that" agrees the first guy.

Its how it feels like when decisions are made :/

Corporation tax or a practical lack thereof rather.

It's frustrating but manageable with some skill. shortened stun dbash is a pain in the ass though

No matter where you are on the globe right now, there is barely any reason to play this game at all, at this point. Unless anything changes the player base will scatter on the wind in a matter of months and EC will die even more sorry death than Age of Reckoning. I guess they got time until the end of the year, and until that as a EU player ill log in from time to time to see if the progress is there, after that deadline I won't even bother, EU sever or not it changes little.

Don't think that EC is dead in the EU.

Guess the main problem besides possible low player count is the matchmaking after all.
Just a wild guess how it works: You start the game... hit the button... games looking if other players or games with free slots are available... there are none or not enough... you get redirected to the other side of the world...

quick scenario: so if 50 EU players start up the game and hit the button just 30 seconds or so apart from each other there is a high possibility they get dropped into a NA server - if there is one available with free slots...
but tbh that's just my imagination - so maybe it works in a different way
I suggest a checkbox for the queue...