So, with recent issues of the community having quite a few undesirables, why not allow for an optional whitelist system?
In conjunction with the registration system, a new file could be included with the AoS download, called "Server Whitelist", where you can add someone via their registered name. This would allow people to host a public server, and still help filter out undesirables by having them go through a whitelist system on the forums/wherever server owners please.
This would help servers build up their own mini-communities without the hassle of trying to keep the IP secret. To keep whitelist servers from dominating all the servers, I'm sure at least one public server hosted by ben could probably keep the game fun for those not willing to communicate with others.