We haven't had a single communication from him for years that's definitely from him. There was a post on a different forum from his old account this year, but nobody can be sure it was really him. The account could have been hacked, or his email name he registered with could have expired. Someone could have registered a new email account using his name if vistomail recycles old expired email names. Then they could have asked for a forum password reset using his old email account's name.
Yes. He definitely does deserve it. He has revolutionised the world by bringing Bitcoin into it. But if he does win it, how will he receive it without people finding out his identity. Maybe he now wants to shoe the world who he really is and take credit for making this futuristic currency.