Let’s cut the crap: it’s not that they “realized” nobody wants it – it’s that they’ve come to accept the blowback against their reputation has gotten too big to outweigh the potential pros of preinstalled bloatware supporting their strategy.
I don’t think that’s fair. Yes, some are supportive of the invasion, some are passively complicit, but those against it are likely afraid to speak up. They have to think about their future and their loved ones. People were being arrested for literally standing and holding a blank sheet of paper in protest, and in Russia I don’t think the legal system is quiiiiite as accountable and human-rights-ish as in the US. It’s easy (and a bit shitty) for us to judge those not willing to put their life on the line for Truth when we’re behind a keyboard and not the ones taking the risk.
True. Heck, even ol’ Slashdot is still kicking around and I think it was the first website discussion board I’d encountered (or maybe that was Fark? which is also kicking around still!)