Actually, many historical examples can be provided that when systems and leaders fall, they fall far and fast: the French and american revolutions, glasnost and perestroika processes, the end of the appartheid in South Africa, the end os the spanish dictatorship, etc. Such massive changes often explode when a critical mass has been reached due to one reason or another. It's not the only way it can happen, true, but it isn't that rare.
Oh, and as far as where I see this going, I agree with Seriphyn, I think CCP is turning the Caldari back to the Eight and far from Heth's hands/vision now that his role in creating FW (together with the Elders) is complete.