As another US player I feel your pain when it comes to getting in games, but what I’ve found is that you just have to work a little harder at it, it’s as simple as that. I’ve learned to check the relevant threads, add myself to the lists, figure out what time that’s gonna be over here and make myself available if at all possible. And yes, I play on the EU servers with an average 150 ping, and I just deal with it. Since making some extra effort I’ve gotten into several good games already and am sure I’ll get into more. Sure I can’t get in a lot of the weekday games, but the EU folks play on weekends too plus there are dev Fridays and such, so there are still opportunities to play decent games. You just gotta make a little extra effort.
I have a wife and work 2 jobs btw, so I don’t wanna hear any excuses about not having time, etc, etc, etc. 
That being said, you could also organize some games amongst US players on the US servers. I’d be game(pun intended).
On the subject of free invites to friends and such, I’m not sure I like that idea regardless of what they can bring to the table for many of the reasons already mentioned by the others. We threw in cash because we believe in something. If your friends believe in it too, they can also throw in. I’d much rather have fewer games with a smaller group of people who have proven themselves passionate about it than a huge group of people who haven’t. just my 2 cents.
