16+ hours is nothing when it comes to something like the health of every possible server/faction on the game. And yes, with a quick google search Blizzard does have interns from May to September, which just happens to be right now when they are doing the server connections. So this would actually cost a lot less than I even expected!
I never said they were allowed to use a source from another website, I said IF someone was to use that site they could get it done really fast. If a website has the ability to do that with blizzards info, then blizzard most likely does it them self, or at least COULD do it them self. Im not sure how the website gets this info, but I assume its most likely from the Armory, since the websites have links to the armory for every character that comes up on it. Even your own character youre posting from is on it!
They dont have to hire a guy to do this job specifically, like I said they could use an intern, or obviously someone thats working within blizzard already.
No I will not most likely always need to transfer off eventually, if blizzard kept up with the server connections every xpac, they’d be able to make sure they’re kept up to date. If they’re doing this now, they obviously see its something of value to be doing. There isn’t really a point in doing it if they’re not going to keep up with it.
I also never said that they should use automated tools to combine the servers, I said to gather the servers information.