Sounds like a reasonable interpretation. The phrasing of the message that the developer claims to have received is still concerning even keeping that in mind.
Yes, it's concerning, but it has to the feel of being the end of a long conversation. I'm picturing something like this:
Manager: You're not allowed to contribute to VNIC.
Employee: But I'm doing it on my spare time!
Manager: You're still not allowed to contribute to VNIC.
Employee: But I'm using my personal email.
Manager: * the email quoted *
---
It feels like someone who's hit the end of their rope with a long back-and-forth and is trying to close any remaining loopholes just to be done with the conversation.
Manager: You're not allowed to contribute to VNIC.
Employee: But I'm doing it on my spare time!
Manager: You're still not allowed to contribute to VNIC.
Employee: But I'm using my personal email.
Manager: * the email quoted *
---
It feels like someone who's hit the end of their rope with a long back-and-forth and is trying to close any remaining loopholes just to be done with the conversation.