So the problem would be if, say, I really really wantthe houseboat and i have 8,000 masks 10 minutes before that countdown clock ends, I know I'm not going to have enough for the houseboat (uses 9,600 masks), but I could buy two "opera seats" (use 3,400 masks each, so crafting 2 would use up 6,800 of my masks) ... If the countdown clock expires and it does exactly what it SAYS it will do, but i waited because I had it on excellent authority that the countdown screen was just kidding when it said that, then I get nuthin' ...
Can you think of a reason for EA not just saying NOW that the time is extended? Some will say that they set people up, so they'll get more donuts ... But that would be achieved by, instead, just ending the crafting as scheduled, and saying "Surprise! You can now pay a bazillion donuts for that houseboat in our store!"
Again, what do they GAIN by giving out the wrong end date for crafting?