Scrap the whole system, top to bottom, and tie in a new system with Club Nintendo. Install a rivals system just like Metroid Prime Hunters had as a mandatory system, so that right after the match, you can click to invite the other user as a friend, and they can accept or reject on the spot. Chat should still be left up to a game-by-game basis
I don't care much about online play, but this system could work

Monster Hunter: pissing me off since 2010.







