I mean, it was indeed a hot mess in many ways, but it was also a mostly functioning online community. So functional it became a great source for information and individual opinions on just about anything.
It could have been preserved and profited from with little effort, but some suits saw a bigger payday opportunity and tried to wring it dry, accidentally squeezed too hard, and drove a wedge into the community.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Prioritize quality on the sharp things. Works the same way with kitchen knives, not that you have to buy something expensive, but you should always keep it sharp. A sharp knife is dangerous, but a dull knife is dangerous and less predictable.