The problem I have is that I mentally can't come up with a realistic response they could give that would make me feel optimistic things would change.
You are right. There is no statement that they could make that would impress me.
They would need to compensate the affected artists with thousands $ for each file, which will never happen.
Deactivating should not be about wanting to achieve something but about protecting our portfolios from becoming worthless.
After thinking about this long and hard throughout the night, if you deactivate, those images are worthless also, except if you are non-exclusive and have them at other site. How do we know that we will be able to reactivate. IS has been known to close people's accounts and take other measures, such as banning people from Forums. They would feel it is within their right to not allow deactivation. They have already taken away opt out. IS can be very vindictive behind their "we are supportive of contributors doing well" lines. I am very concerned about being able to reactivate. Going elsewhere is not an option for me.
Those of you who have other outlets, there will still be income coming in. At this moment I need every penny I can get from IS. My top sellers are no longer being downloaded in any significant numbers. I am almost only selling images before 2009, and they differ all the time.
I can certainly deactivate non-selling images, which will add to the total. I think it is irrelevant whether they are top sellers or not. Even with a lightbox showing what images, I don't think IS would care. There are thousands of top contributors, who have been vocal about issues in the past and we are not hearing from them now.. Numbers alone are more significant, but it is only a gesture.
The only way there will be action is if there is a law suit. Even if we don't win, they have to spend $, maybe lots of it to defend a class action suit. I absolutely do not think they will respond to anything else. The deals have been struck and they are not going to be changed. But if we can show disregard for copyright and putting models at risk, then we have a bargaining chip. If we get models saying they do not want their images handled this way (which would be done in a lawsuit as evidence), that would be pretty powerful.
I think the deactivation may get press coverage and affect sales some. Buyers may form a boycott and once they leave and find the many quality images that can be gotten elsewhere, cheaper from new agencies, they may not come back.
Anyway, these are my concerns and should be thought over very carefully before to something that only hurts the contributor in the long run.
That was my 50 cents worth. Just things to consider.