I managed to get in touch with blob yesterday. They had previously contacted me years back to ask about a program I had used, and we continued to correspond outside of the forum infrequently ever since my initial offering of some guidance on that subject.

The following is disclosed with their consent & agreement:

The reason they quit was because they were getting abuse in private chat messages from names they did not recognise - newly created, or generally long dormant accounts.
Someone had also somehow identified them on other media, and had been continuing the attacks there.

Reporting each incident, having mods police such events after-the-fact and generally become fraught enforcers did not seem worthy of the battle when a new account can be created in 5 minutes to renew the process - as we witnessed for many years, for example with the kitchen spammers.

So, that was that. The easiest way to draw a line under it was to stop altogether.
They didn't really want to go into anything more, and I did not seek to press the issue.

Be careful forum friends.

If I could lock this thread from further replies then I would, but that does not seem to be an option.
I'm just passing on the reminder about online safety, not looking for a book of condolence.

Very sorry blob.

On a happier note, they sent me some of their files, in case anyone wanted to continue them. How they ever managed to keep up all of their charts is mind-boggling. The amount of work is far too much for me to be able to carry it on - even when I understand exactly how the thing is done, which is not very often.

If I can select one thing to perhaps update occasionally I will, but I doubt it, as it all draws from one central repository that needs constant maintenance. Impressive; borderline mad genius, but impressive