GMs, Sundi, and several hundred other SE employees play ffxi, as a game, not just as a job.
I HIGHLY doubt whoever got banned on our server was the first to break it to SE that this site exists. Let alone let them know widower exists.
They knew about it all. Even so, that they reference sites like this, when referring to thier policies of, "if u found it online, we can't use it as evidence". By saying that alone, they acknowledge third party communities exist, communicate, and discuss xi.
It's purely egotistical to think your friend is the first in 5 years to rat out the widower community. Or ah.com, or any other fan site for that matter.