They actually are going to continute making the index but they'll have an online one too.
As for the food thing, this is nothing new. When they negotiate deals for convention facilities, WT gets a lower rate by not using the concession stands and workers. In many facilities the food is operated by a separate company. For example in many sports facilities Aramark is the one commonly used. By not having to use them, the facility costs less. However, the facility owners don't want people (for any event) to get food from anywhere else like an outside restaurant so they have to buy there. To appease the owners, WT promises that the JWs won't go out for food but bring their own lunches. When JWs go out for lunch they're breaking the agreement.
Is it dumb? Yes. I'm just posting the reasoning. Personally, I wouldn't mind having a fresh hot pretzel or some nachos from the concession stand on my lunch break :)