I tend to think that was a misplay on the part of the original author. If they had notified the 1647 users that their machines would be wiped a month in advance

I tend to think that was a misplay on the part of the original author. If they had notified the 1647 users that their machines would be wiped a month in advance, then a bottom up pressure to get it resolved would have occurred. Few folks are as invested in their daily work as the people who will be blocked.