I think it's mostly the case that they don't have any choice but to require KYC, just like ShapeShift was forced to.
Sure, but that doesn't mean they have to implement the KYC at the same time they announce it.
That's really my only gripe. Do what you feel you have to do but at least approach it with dignity. When they announced it for US citizens I'm pretty sure they got at least 2 weeks notice if not more. It's one thing to perform KYC with a business of your choosing after research, but to be told you have to do this now, and this is the only way. There isn't even a lite version of KYC for low volume withdrawals.
They for sure knew, likely since implementing the US portion. It's funny that they fall into the rhetoric that this is the only way forward for Crypto to become a "viable and legitimate financial network" as quoted above.