In their forums Aery Soul said outright that that was NOT the reason she was pulled.   But given enough time speculation can run rampant in Poserland :)

They claim that Alice was too "personal" for them and they couldn't continue creating if she was out there.   Which to me is totally senseless as a number of people already have her - thus she stopped being personal.   What's left to protect now?   

Anyway, they've done it before with May, and as buyer who does not have Poser on her priority list and gets things only when she can afford them not only when they're being hyped, I was quite upset not to be able to get May but said nothing.  Now with Alice I feel I can and should speak up.   It's almost like being forced to get something the minute it comes out for fear of it being gone once you blink.  If I sound bitter, it's because I am :/