This whole debacle and how players have reacted to it and still keep reacting to it reminds me of very much of a certain pattern that is quite irrational and quite common.
That of an abusive relationship.
Abuse happens.
The abused threatens to leave, packs his/her stuff and goes to a relatives house.
Abuser lies that things will change.
Abused comes up with excuses for abusers behaviour.
Abuser agrees.
Abused goes back into the relationship knowing that the abuser has changed.
The Abuser hasn't, eventually the cycle starts anew.
Why the abused just doesn't leave the relationship behind is puzzling to everyone outside the relationship.
There are a few things that keep the abused in the relationship, memories of good times, hope for a better future than the present, belief that things could be worse, fear of being alone, dependency on the abuser in one way or another, children.
Those outside the whole relationship see that the abused starts to change during the relationship, they become blind to the abuse, give excuses for the abusers behaviour, they start avoiding things that might trigger the abuse, usually some kind of addiction also creeps in, especially if the abuser shares it.
So, what does this have to do with an EVE player?
We all have had golden memories, we still have fun playing the game if we avoid the broken bits, we want to hold on to the community that has gone through the same shit that we have, we know that there is not a single MMO out there that can compete even with a broken EVE, we want to believe when CCP lies to us because we really, really, really want to play EVE.
But lets face it, CCP will not change.
Friendships that you have made in EVE will stay with you if you have built them to last.
You can have fun in a myriad of ways outside of EVE without frustration of a broken game mechanic or abuse from other players or game developers.
Good memories are of the past, live in the present and for a better future.
The stuff I have rambled on about here is just my personal feelings and experiences.
I'm just hoping that this perspective will give something for someone.
FYI, HTFU is exactly what an abuser would say to the abused when they threaten to leave the relationship.