While I agree that there is a cost for running a server, a server is required in any case. The chat server would simply run in a VM or as just another thread. FAF was down for a while after Zep took leave, resulting in players having to use the steam client to find games and we know how well that turned out. I have friends on the FAF server that I have met in real life and talk to about things other than FA. Its a social thing, something that everyone can feel a part of. If players do not wish to join the chat, there is nothing forcing them to. Win = Win