But it was the norm for XenForo developers when they were at vB. It was the norm for XenForo. From what I see right now at vB and IPB forums, it is the norm in the industry right now.
And I think that's what some, myself fer shure, disagree with based on industry history, the developers own history, XenForo history and industry norms. They are, in fact, under an obligation to communicate with their customer base via their support forum, as they did at vB, as they did in XenForo, as is expected at all the forum software companies.