The TRT's job is to review themes in relation to the guidelines. Suggestions that they do otherwise doesn't, in my opinion, make much sense.

The "contract" with the users that is being enforced is, if you change themes you don't loose your content. That is very reasonable and laudible.

By continuing to allow Zerif-Lite in the repo, the problem grows with each install. My own opnion is that it would be acceptable to allow ThemeIsle to put a neurtal notice in the theme dashboard for 6 months, in the version in the repo, that directed users to download further updates at the ThemeIsle website. I realize that we don't want that kind of advertisement, but in cases where something was allowed, and no longer is, it seems reasonable.

I've been following these types of conflicts between TRT and commercial theme developers for several years now. My conclusion is that we need to make some changes to core to support new / more options for theme innovation, changes that will be acceptable in the repository.

In the meantime, I'm thankful for the hard work of the TRT and appreciate the positive way that ThemeIsle has expressed themeselves (even if I disagree).