I really hope that this change was unintended. There was absolutely no mention of switching to UTC, and a change this big should definitely have been on the patch notes.
I still remember the times when a new major area was released (e.g. Ludibrium, KFT). Many people flocked there the moment the game went up after the patch, and people gathered on the ships with anticipation. There was always a great deal of excitement with exploring new areas whether you go on your own, with friends, or strangers.
