The flak comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, but now that I reread it, it doesn't com across that way. But, I know many members have been very upset by how the company did things over the past few years, hell I was one of them. I let them know what I thought and continued about my life doing other things. I wasn't expecting what happened though, I do wish Thom the best and he won't be hearing any crap from me.
The reality though is technically this in no longer his responsibility, so he really has no responsability to return to the forums at all, it is simply his choice.