What it does is chills the customer base, the attempt is to stifle dissent.
Customers will fear similar retribution if they voice their displeasure.
This is called Gestapo tactics.
Similar.
It is more a mafiosi mindset.
And BFL isn't the only company in the BTC community to act like thugs.
These douchebags think they are above reprisal.
One would think that they would feel remorse, if they were trying to be a legitimate BTC miner manufacturer.
Instead, they act superior.
IMO, it is the tell of a con-man... overconfidence.
I would love to be wrong in my intuition that a lot of folks will have small fortunes disappear to the BFL super scam.
And considering Trendon Shavers has not been found hanging by his nuts, this empowers other folks with low moral standards to try to scam the community.