Don't imagine.
Every organisation, whether profit or non-profit constantly seeks ways it can grow. Companies spend millions in research only to find out it was a waste of time. That's real life.
There has never been a visionary leader in history, whether the leader of a country, company, movement or any other organisation who didn't have to make bold decisions. If it doesn't work out, we get up dust ourselves up and try again. Don't ever blame anybody for trying.

As the saying goes, "The difference between a genius and a madman is in the result'.
If things had worked out just as he hoped and the new software became better than the current one, he would have been hailed for the bold step
You have a right to ask questions but don't make it look like he made a foolish decision for trying to make the forum better. It just didn't work out, so we move on.