That is a sad story, but so lovely in that you have kept your copies.  I think Rendo must have changed a lot now, for all the fractal artists are a very friendly and helpful bunch and I have never once noticed any ill feeling, only really good cameraderie.  Maybe the people using UF and FE and all the other programmes understand it should be fun.  Are we going to see you posting FE again?  I'd love to see your images. I do quite a lot of postwork in FE Textures facility and add a little in PI or PSP, and have never been challenged.