My goal was not say that SC is as complex as SKA telescopes but that we know almost nothing about the structure and flow of data projected by CIG. And it's certainly more complex than WOW or Warframe.
There is nothing to suggest this.
This is CI¬G. So best-case scenario is that they're just lying again. Worse-case is that what they say is true: never mind sharing data — they are somehow unable to connect two clusters even though that's built into the framework of what they're using (because let's remember, they're not talking about anything complex or any large data transfer or -processing issues — its literally about two servers talking to each other). Or, most likely and worst-case scenario: both.
At no point in the past have they ever managed to demonstrate a level of competence that would give the impression that the utterly trivial and mundane would not leave them completely flummoxed. But they also wouldn't miss an opportunity to be as opaque as possible about it.
And as Ragdoll client side is not a good technic to have a coherent body placement for everyone, predefined animations can be real choice. Ragdoll client side and predefined animations have pro and cons
Predefined animations are fine, but that's completely against the design ethos of the company.
Client-side ragdolls is also not a problem since the server could still be authoritative on body placement.
But more to the point: not only is this a canned animation, which goes against everything they're so fond of ignorantly bragging about, but it is a canned animation not reacting properly to its environment, which goes against everything they're so fond of ignorantly bragging about, and this is in a game that has previously given strong hints that
it is not actually server-authoritative at all, which not only goes against everything they're so fond of ignorantly bragging about but is also humongously, catastrophically, massively idiotic. So that's most likely what they've done.