My memory isn't the best but I'm pretty sure Homestrife was trying to reach a licensing agreement with WP and when that failed, the project fell apart because they would have no way to legally use the IP. The project was simply too visible at that point to keep it a fan project, because it could then be C&D'd at any time. I'm sure there was some intention to monetize, as well. They basically got the red light from WP and decided to honor it, or at least that's the impression I was left with, so many years later.