I'd like to propose the addition of an option in the debug - client or world menu for manualy refreshing the friends online list.
I've noticed at times the friends list loads without problem, and then at others it doesn't load at all, and then even at other times it will only partialy load.
I'm unfamiliar with what happens behind the scenes when the initial friends online list is populated on login but, it doesn't seem to be something that would be to difficult to add as a manualy triggered event, (though I could be wrong).
Self prioritizing this as small priority as it will likely become moot once the initial bug is squashed.