Added

I would plead not to overdo privacy issues. I am recalling the customs in LP muds, the text based predecessors of modern MMOs - there, the online status of every player character could be watched even if you weren't logged into the game proper. Much more, the intermud feature allowed that for all interconnected games of that kind all over the world. I fail to see much threat oder damage therefrom, except when the RL person behind a char is known by somebody (e.g. the employer) and her playtime may be monitored that way. That was one of the reasons a silent login was introduced in some games.

The online/offline status message is threatening for griefers, gankers and harassers rather than for normal players. A stalker chasing some player char may always refer to a simple /who, follow universe, faction and other chats, place alts at capital porters etc., and a player who doesn't want to restrict all communication can hardly evade from. The game is made for communication and interaction, not for hiding away.

I do not need nor want entering the game nor playing it stealthily, and don't see any need for any rule abiding player to do so. Rather I fear opportunities for abusers opening up once such stealth mode will be supported. Thus I would urgently plead to restrict that to the login/logoff message if at all and not give in to any further demand.