Again, 3rd rate psychology with the express wish to explain, pardon or dismiss away another's behavior in a situation by attempting to tell other people what they are thinking or how they are feeling is not a help of any kind.
It accomplishes the opposite.
it wrongly validates everyone's feelings and behavior.

Yes .. it was stated a long time ago that though there is a lack of manpower to post official updates ..there was a lot of movement project-wise on IRC.

The difficulty the consumer has with that is:

A- technical talk on a project in arena such as Internet Relay Chat ...is just that ...chat.
IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF ANY KIND.

B- Technical discussion of such specific depth is beyond all but those who are specifically intimate with it. Which leaves an easy 90% out of the loop.

C- Even on IRC the team were busy working ( it very obviously appears) on problem solving. Interrupting them to ask mundane and simple questions compared to their immediate concerned tasks seems not only just that...interrupting ...but also detracting and distracting them from their work.
All of which make issues.

D- By keeping updates and "Q" and "A" in a specific area ...and out of the work space of the IRC channel ..it keeps distracting chatter down that can pull away from their work.


The point of official updates in any context of a relationship is that it is "official" .
It allays concern, bolsters faith, and helps in 2 way communication.

An official update doesn't have to be pure technical answers given, or "we are done "this" , now it is time for "that" statements...
EVEN if the update is something as non-tech and vague seeming as .."Hey everybody we still have a pulse..we are working hard..everything is going great, or we are struggling , or it's a mixed bag "...
whatever..
ALL of those kinds of simple 2 min. responses put a human face to the update statement ....and to the team..which can be empathized and commiserated with at SOME level...
And then I have a leg to stand on..
I can be supportive..
I can defend the project and team..

a couple of minutes ...literally...once every two weeks or once a month...
it doesn't have to be an in depth White House 10 hour "Q" and "A".
No questions need answering ...
Just throw us a freakin' bone now and then..
Give the rest of us something to work with to validate and justify any continued interest at all.

Yes ..bad enough investors/ donate-ers (no bloody word for that) / preorder-ers are upset with 4 years + waiting.
Worse is zero official updates on the official site ...for a very long time.
That troubles...

Lets just separate the direct emotion in the issue and look at it in a pragmatic realistic business light..

If I as a consumer walk into a tailor's store ...who is said to make the finest tuxedos ...and says ..."money up front please.."..
then tells me at the desk .. to ..." wait right here, your suit should be done shortly, not sure exactly how long it will take but it shouldn't be long..."
and I end up waiting not all day there ...nor the next...
but wait 4 years...
patiently.
during the first 3 years of waiting in the store for my suit ..
the tailor comes back and informs me of progress ..
but then follows a whole year without any official word whatsoever on the state of the tuxedo I paid into 4 years ago...

How long would the consumer patiently wait before becoming upset?
How long would the tailor stay in business if this is the standard daily business practice?

Those who do it ...STOP JUSTIFYING and VALIDATING behavior ...which in any other business construct...Is not acceptable .

This isn't about "everyone should understand what they got themselves into when investing in a project ..."

call it a "donor / artist " relationship ...
call it whatever you please ...
But in the end ...the blunt is ...
this is a customer / business relationship ...
And the standard rules of "business 101 engagement" ... apply.

The customer does have a valid reason to be concerned and to voice that concern...
if communication with the business breaks down.