I think that the whole thing was blown out of proportion, and likely all the information was not given or available. Those that didn't like the copyright, just wanted the damn book. Pure and simple, its availability was the issue not the actual copyright.
People should have been selling the freaking ebook for the last 5 years or so. So the person at that time made a bad business decision that likely cost them $$. That is the real essence of the problem, and people just need to come clean and admit that. That is what got lost in the debate.
The copyright was and is valid, and sure some want it out free because it wakes up people, etc... But I know for me I wanted to either buy the damn copyright or have it put in the public domain so you could actually get a legal copy. Its a supply issue not a copyright issue.
Then if its a demand issue, its a business decision to print or not.