Well, Sparks has saved us the trouble of wondering what the hell's going on in the DPX forum by closing it. And it sounds like RYP ended up biting the hand that was feeding him, so to speak. Probably the last straw. ESEE ended their association none too soon.
Do you suppose it's worth it to pick up one of the last Rowen made HEST knives? Aside from the unnecessary bottle opener, wire breaking notch, stubby pry bar edge, and laughing skull, it looks like a stout little knife. Of course, for the same money I could get another ESEE-4, or better yet, an Izula II AND an Eskabar. Hmmm....