I wonder what really happened. You don't go ahead and do a major upgrade if you're thinking of closing down the site. Even if he run out of money for the marketing why not keep the site alive with skeleton crew like many of the small ones do and keep looking for financing? Fishy. Probably a human factor - someone decided to pull out their money/support. Or something like that. Happens all the time.
Ah well - too bad, was one of the better new sites.

I agree it is odd.  In fact, didn't Bryan just take some time off to "recharge" because working weekends for 2 years had taken it's toll?  It could be the case of spousal burn-out.  I don't know him, but I'm guessing he's married and the wife might have said "Enough is enough."  Had close friends who went through something similar.  He ended up selling a [transmission shop] business that had rounded the corner into profit with a good reputation for honesty and integrity. 

I think the thing that irritates me the most is that all the news we were told is "things are improving, more growth, more traffic..." and then the rug is pulled out from under and "Oh by the way, we're not paying you."

I recently had the too similar rejection too.  The only time I've questioned a rejection there but no response to my query.  One was a completely empty easter basket, the other had some easter grass in it.  Similar yes, but I would say different enough.   I would have bought poor isolation better (rejected on another site for just that... but that site rejects 60% of my submissions so I expect it!)

I'm sure Corbis will find something they can do, after all Bill Gates did start it and we know he's got experience in court...

I didn't find the joke terribly funny myself, I thought it was in very poor taste to send false information to contributors AND buyers (and prospective from either side).  Makes me glad they declined my port a few months back.