MW got tired of the forum and shut it down for several months. With no notice, no apology. Twice. Most recently claiming he promises to keep it open for 10 years.
Promises aside, yes he apparently did, barring you buy Gravity's "rendition" intimation...
Who's to say this isn't a ploy to close it without taking blame? Perhaps it's a happy coincidence for him - perhaps he didn't intentionally do it but is happy to take advantage of it and leave it like it like this. Whether or not any of this is the case, it's the sort of speculation he should expect.
It's also not unfounded speculation.
When he chose to re-enable the dick doctor you can observe that he invited the wolf into the pasture and then took offense when the guard dog did what comes naturally and went after him. As a result the forum lost its two greatest click-through generators and thereby resultant traffic.
Does anyone go there to read Brig's pallid attempts at Heather reanimation? Is her fixation on the homeless livestream guy in NYC compelling reading? Has Jackstar's "everything is a conspiracy" act worn a bit thin?
Does it seem a bit forced when Brig speaks for MV and says he believes the suicide note is real and wants this "James Cheney" character to join him on a Gabcast to examine as much?
It's all playing out as a lot more Eddie Lampert/Sears than it is a turnaround story is my observation.