I agree that there might have been other option besides defaulting in this case. I think a competent barrister could have argued for a sealed proceeding on the grounds of possible bodily harm or some other form of retaliation being made upon the defendant if his identity had been revealed to the general public. I also think that if there were financial considerations that kept this case from being defended properly that the Bitcoin community would have rallied in support. I also agree that the disparity between the haves and have nots in most judicial systems is a heinous thing. I think Elon Musk is more clever than most give credit for, it could just be he was tweaking the nose of the SEC and exercising his right to free speech. I do not care for his obsession with dogecoin even though it is a interesting community with tremendous support. I remain unconvinced of its long term store of value properties and usefulness. There is only one person who really knows the motive and I don't believe the man has time or the inclination to explain to us mere mortal's.
It's worth noting that the scumbag likes to pick his jurisdictions based on which is most likely to give him the more favorable outcome. Notably, he has gamed the UK's libel laws in previous actions. This is clearly an action that should have occurred in the US given that .orgs are technically US and bitcoin.org is on a server based in the US but malarkey as ever...
CA became VERY practiced in this through the "Bodog" years. As a (bad) poker player (that was my entry into the corn in fact) I was aware of him skating around all jurisdictional things in that realm, and he was for a time on some three letter agency's most wanted list. He is deeply skilled in the game he is playing today.
Honestly, I have occasionally wondered if he were the actual antichrist gearing up for the mark through all this. I mean damn, even his actual name is poetic for such a thing. The level of deception between the two of them... Jesus... well... maybe i should say anti-Jesus.