While the recent A4A seems like an obvious tactical mistake, I've yet to see anyone make a strong argument that the API changes are bad for the site's bottom line. And if no one can do this, then why would spez get fired? I guess maybe just for optics?
The question that is unknown is what percent of reddit's userbase uses exclusively third party clients vs those who use reddit's official client. And then, what portion of the third party userbase will migrate to the official client after those third party clients go away.
I'm sure spez knows at least the first set of numbers, and they find the amount of expected loss to be an acceptable risk.
partly optics, but mainly loss of confidence, not just by the users, but Reddit's employees.
It may be an OK business decision (though I personally think they didn't think it through), but he handled the aftermath in an extraordinarily bad way.
Either he doesn't have good lieutenants around him to advise and support him, or he is too stubborn to listen to them.
Yeah, I think that although the complaints about these changes are largely overblown, it might be best for spez to fall on his sword at some point before the dust settles. Maybe take a vacation and come back in a few years again.
