Sounds like they're suckers. Higher prices should be setting off "con" alerts in their head. I wouldn't trust someone who can't do proper risk assessment to sell me drugs.
It didn't work well. It stored encryption keys centrally and because of that the police was listening in for months without anyone knowing before they shut it down.
For an encrypted phone network that's pretty much the opposite of working well. Even with the servers compromised the network should remain secure. Like it is with Signal and even WhatsApp.
I always wonder why such networks make mistakes like storing key material centrally. I suppose telling a crime lord that he can't have his messages back because he forgot his PIN code is not fun. But neither is having their network cracked by the police I guess.
>conning international criminal carries a level of risk to one's health
True, but so does cooperating with authorities to be a honeypot. Branding yourself as a legitimate business for criminals is a Bad Idea for the very reason encrochat learned. The criminals should be thinking the same way.
A bit like buying Apple, which is also very expensive.