The whole thing was better done in the light novels, actually. Zaza's guild had a bigger part to play in the original SAO novel, so that story twist made more sense when you read it from the book.
I should know - i OWNED the book. In Japanese.
...But I had to read bakatsuki fan translations. Hah.
Speaking of the light novels; the next part of the story(that comes after Gun Gale Online) is considered the best one since Aincrad. SAO: Aliciziation, I think it was called? I certainly found it interesting, even if it was something of a slow burner at the start.