I have seen talks on the PS chat, apparently NatDex AG was removed for philosophical reasons.
The format did not cost anything because it did not require Devs to maintain it for now (it was already set up for gen9, and stable), at least not until generation 10 is released.
Obviously those who did not enjoy the format were not forced to play it (I know it's obvious but you'll be surprised how many people argue in favour of its deletion just because they think the format is not good.... I mean....)
In the meantime, good or not, this was one of the most played format at any time of the day, day and night. (so I guess it was good). So a lot of human beings, PS players (who by the way see the advertisements on the website, even if it's not a lot of money) are feeling sad.
Suggestion : since it does not cost anything to keep that format until generation 10, why not make people happy for free (no cost), while at the same time making nobody sad at all? (nobody forced to play it)
Whether the format has "leaders", or "is competitive" or "has a Smogon community" are good questions, but questions that have no impacts on the fact that it does not cost anything to anyone to keep it until generation 10, while making lots of people happy.
Unless I am missing something, if you have the choice to 1) make nobody sad, 2) make lots of people happy, 3) at no cost, then I am not quite sure why you would not do it.
All other reasons can be beautiful philosophical reasons, but if it does not cost anything to make people happy... then.....by definition.... it doesn't cost anything.
The format did not cost anything because it did not require Devs to maintain it for now (it was already set up for gen9, and stable), at least not until generation 10 is released.
Obviously those who did not enjoy the format were not forced to play it (I know it's obvious but you'll be surprised how many people argue in favour of its deletion just because they think the format is not good.... I mean....)
In the meantime, good or not, this was one of the most played format at any time of the day, day and night. (so I guess it was good). So a lot of human beings, PS players (who by the way see the advertisements on the website, even if it's not a lot of money) are feeling sad.
Suggestion : since it does not cost anything to keep that format until generation 10, why not make people happy for free (no cost), while at the same time making nobody sad at all? (nobody forced to play it)
Whether the format has "leaders", or "is competitive" or "has a Smogon community" are good questions, but questions that have no impacts on the fact that it does not cost anything to anyone to keep it until generation 10, while making lots of people happy.
Unless I am missing something, if you have the choice to 1) make nobody sad, 2) make lots of people happy, 3) at no cost, then I am not quite sure why you would not do it.
All other reasons can be beautiful philosophical reasons, but if it does not cost anything to make people happy... then.....by definition.... it doesn't cost anything.