i remember me and my friend we was in elktro.
i was waiting for him, suddenly i saw his character i said: okay dude, come on let's go!: he said : wait man i haven't even logged in, it's still says WAIT FOR HOST"
it's possible that it's one of the way how people losing there stuff.
imagine that he is not my friend, i have a gun.
i will shot him and take his loot
and he have no idea what's going on!!!!
i think you can make the character don't appears while the screen are not loaded.
or you can make something like 'ghost spawn'.
i mean about 'ghost spawn' is: that you can see what around you and the others can't see you. but, you cant' move you, can't eat, you cant drink, you cant do anything unless you pressed on one of the movement key.
and when you press it.
you are no longer hidden, and you are free.