The lack of dedicated testers isn't uncommon in software development (they're often floating once tests are sufficiently automated)...but the lack of developer/engineering support is concerning. Didn't Matsui say to Famitsu last year that they now have 2 dedicated engineers? Dropped from 2 to 0 really fast...
It's really not, the game does not have programmers because it does not need them.
All updates are made with a scripting language (that all the planners can use) and they just make new content and patches with this scripting language. They don't really need to make new core components to the game above and beyond what they already have because they have so many components already.
To use an analogy, making new patches for FFXI right now is akin to re-purposing lego pieces. Ambuscade is just a reworked legion for example. They can still tweak existing components too if they need to, you don't need expensive programmers on the team who barely do anything for that.
It's funny how we went from "PLEASE DON'T SHUT THE GAME DOWN!" to "6 isn't enough yo!"