Most scammers over the years will either pay back some amount, or claim that they are going to until everyone forgets. Usually it's just a matter of waiting a month or so before some even bigger scam or other catastrophe eclipses it. So, nothing very 'innovative' here.
I beg to differ. If TF actually refunds ~70% to everyone, and handles the loudy people one by one, he will soon be a hero again.
That's a very clever move in my opinion, much better than any previous scam.