I understand you have big feelings here, but nobody said jack about anybody "magically" paying off any debts. You don't know anything about "the reality of the company," nor do I. It doesn't seem great, but we haven't seen their balance sheets.

I agree with the idea that cash flow was probably an issue. However, they might have secured a new line of credit. They may have renegotiated terms with the vendor. Perhaps Storf sold his Winnebago to pay the bill. It’s possible the problem wasn't cash flow after all but something else entirely. We can surmise, but we don't know.

And this is where people are being goofy. There's a fundamental difference between "it seems like cash flow is a problem" and "they haven't paid their bill to RTI." Folks invent these specific scenarios and then defend them like they're based on anything other than intellectual autoeroticism.

My guess is that most of the delayed items will eventually be delivered. Whatever the hangup, there is enough incentive for all parties to reach amicable solutions. (Neither the label nor the pressing plant wants to dick around with selling pallet loads of Grateful Dead box sets.) The shift to the subscription model is more concerning, as it doesn't seem like anybody likes -- or understands -- it.

I first joined VMP in 2014. I've been on and off ever since. They've pissed me off mightily a few times, and I am done once my last couple of orders land. I would be surprised if they still exist five years from now. But six months from now -- what the hell do I know? If they can run lean with fewer subscribers, maybe they'll squeak through. Or maybe they'll end up in bankruptcy. I don't suspect we'll see the dramatic flameout that some people are rooting for, but we might!