It also seems that the KQ window only updates once a second
My key to getting into KQ's is to go to a quiet part of Elderine (the corner near the MT gate usually works), turn on character hide, select the KQ I want to join, watch the clock.
As soon as the clock goes to the correct time, I hold down on the participate button, as soon as it goes to recruiting I release.
This *normally* gets me in, but not always.