[probably]

But isn't there some tacit agreement, or expectation that long-time users and active members will not have to abandon years of investment in a platform -- on a whim of the provider? Of course, the designers are entitled to make their changes... but at the expense of the (supportive) user community? I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but providers would not exist were it not for the demand created by the community. It's true that displeased community members can abandon ship, but they have a right to be angry (in the understanding that they entered a provider-user arrangement upon a "gentleman's agreement" as stated above).