And yes like someone else has already posted it seems to be the typical strategy of divide and conquer. Now where XT has failed this is attempt number two.
You probably forgot about Bitcoin Unlimited. This is attempt number three. Neither XT nor Unlimited have failed. They are here if they are needed. If the growth in transactions slows down and Core's approach is early successfull, they will not be needed. But as soon as the highway is full, mempool growths continuosly and core's approaches fail you'll be thankfull for every alternative client that saves bitcoin.
(this said, classic may have chosen the wrong timing to come out. Otherwise they can now built a community and develop an own roadmap to be prepared when / if the need for some alternative to core will be urgent)
