Look at addressing the naming of NPCs in GUI. Also applies to entering values in warehouse filters and farm worksites (number of cows, etc).

Options you mentioned earlier.
A: Not send the data/validate it until the name is finished being enterered/gui closed, or
B: Do some different handling with the validation packet that is returned from the server so that it doesn't overwrite new input since it was sent with the old validated input that is returned.

I like A. After reading B five times I decided it does make sense. It just needs a hug, is all.