If that's what they're referring to, then my question is why does that need to end?

Sorry, I misunderstood Adafruit's position and therefore your question. It's weird that they would stop supporting anything they sold, even if they now want nothing to do with it. (They still have five forums for x0xb0x for pete's sake.) I guess they are trying to make a clean break and want to pour all resources into Freensy.