Yep. Usually, big threads like these cannot be kept up by the OP nevertheless, simply due to how much they have to discuss.
We need just to appreciate how much we can get and learn from them and the members that are in them.
I share your view and I've always advocate for an active thread so long as the discussion there is important, meaningful and progressive. The OP may not necessarily be active before a thread is active, but at the same time, it is better if the OP is active. The OP of this thread has been absent from the forum since the 16th of August, so it is not matter of the OP keeping track again as you said, we can't give an excuse with that, but our personal interest on the thread.
Very correct because is not a must Op will write, if a thread is being created by someone doesn't give them any obligation to it, however based on how the price and possibly uninterested he saw from people that made him decided to open the thread, though I saw that other members feels that it was what happened to his account that made him not to writing here but that is not it because from when it happens till now is not far, so definitely he has no much interest on the thread but however I would say he did well by bringing this because is only when important ideas are disseminated you will see this activity.