Because things are looking so bleak from our perspective, that perceived demise will set suspicions that those at the helm may do something drastic on their own behalf to move the technology off to someone else.

There's a reason that that the technology has never gone to the full considerations of an IPR. The IPR is in effect making the patents worthless, because they're afraid to go the full distance, however the patents still do exist and they can be sold, backdoor compensation ,,,or otherwise 

doni