What else could you expect? (Score 4, Informative)

EvE is a well established game. In EvE, characters advance by in game time, thus the older a character is, the more powerful it is. So how is it surprising that developers grow close ties with the older, established players? Those are the ones who have been around since the start. On the eve-o forums, one of the high-ups in the best alliance in the game, Band of Brothers, is repeatedly stating that the developers are friends with BoB members.

Here's an example: http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u162/grover2828 /510.jpg

This is simply to be expected in a game where developers play the game along with players, and further, where the company recruits its GMs from the playerbase.