I believe FC gave the market the proper opportunity to absorb the product before this change in direction. I also believe he made it quite clear that this was a possible outcome. My preference is to see a sustainable business model that reinvests in maintaining a sizeable percentage of the network as equipment sales margins will only diminish unless there is a profound rise in the price of BTC or something profoundly cracks the current ASIC cost/efficiency situation to be highly profitable for a short term. That term being only as long as it takes for the competition to step up or the manufacturer elects to use their own equipment.

I suspect shares may be making their way to steady hands with what appears to be a longer term strategy then some had believed. Holding ground with a percentage of the network in a position of profitability appears to be a favorable option when you are benefitting from working at the most competitive costs. AM has deep enough pockets to achieve this and is already in possession of ASICs to make it happen.