That is an excellent point. No, I did not attempt the Pirate Quest because I anticipated the substatial time investment, did some mental cost/benefit calculations, and decided it was not a worthwhile investment for me because I saw the risk of doing that large of a quest as the possibility of not passing, which was just too much for me to risk. I did the mini-quest and was happy with the result of that and then I went about my day.
I can certainly empathize with the frustrations of the players that were not able to complete the quest due to its early termination. I have no idea as to the real reason why VMK chose to end the quest, but I imagine they felt it necessary to do so. Unfortunately, some players were not able to complete the quest because of that, but that was an inherent risk with beginning in the first place.
Well this was a very unsual situation and really what you did was probably the best decision. This was an extrememly emotional rollercoater that thousands rode for 3.5 days.
Did they do it for the quest prizes yes. But more so they did it for their friends and family. But there were too many to help some got left behind. Most people cried actual tears trying to get people through pirates. Hurt feeling because they were only one person and too many to help.
People stay at there computers constantly for 3 days or more trying so hard not to let anyone down.
Many did not eat well or sleep lots, got headaches etc
Families working hard to try and get everyone through. To be caught up short because they did not see the fine print that was added on the first Home Page Tuesday Morning.
There was no pop to all players saying the quest would be closing early. That may be due to what computer issues they were having.
But not to have it in bold huge letters while signing in was only a typing input issue I think.
To the mothers and fathers work work all weekend to have the quest close at noon and having to tell their one 7 year old son he did not finish when everyone in the family did.
And watch the tears roll down his face. This story was told 100's of times. No lie. if not even more.
Could they have walked away. Not really because behind those pixels were real people with real feelings, real friends real children. Not an easy task to ask majority of caring people.
The quest in itself was a awesome quest and given a longer time period would have been the best ever. Really creative quest well thought out. I got great pleasure reading the Blachheart story and it was not till the end I knew it was not true. Made me laugh.
So you have people really upset with the lack of communication something that has happened over and over again. And sadly it happens mostly to the age group it is focused too/
If this was just adults playing I think it would have calmed down by now.
But Disney created what he did for families.
Maybe if the first newletter had said we are really sorry for having to close the quest down and disappoint many players.
Unfortunatey we had few cheaters that were causing major issues to the security of the game.
You all worked really hard and enjoy your prizes. We here at Disney are working extremely hard to make sure this doesn't happen again.
But unfortunately it came across no matter if indended or not to the majority of people. Most of you cheated. so we had to close it down.
Never in VMK have I been called a cheater have kids come up to me and type kick kick. You scam. That is where I get the disharmony, cruel words.
This type of behavior was repeated over and over again.
Even the hosts were telling people in their host games that you wear those ears with pride. You deserve all your rewards. You work to get those prizes you enjoy them.
Would not have been needed if the newletter had communicated much better.
So even Host went into crisis management in a way. It was not the quest in itself that cause all discontentment. And for people who did not do the quest or did but everyone got through and they had no hurt feeling to start with they too would see no problem with how the first newletter came across.
But when you have thousands who were let down. Not thousands who did not finish those who help another get through only for them to be cut short then you have a whole different issue on your hands.
I do believe they work extremly hard at VMK. But they lack a very important key communications really needs to be fixed. I am sure they could find many quaified people that would even donate their time to help in this issue.
Communication would have solved 60% of what you have been reading.
I hope that helps a bit on why so many are so upset.
You will find very few that that did this quest a handful that had no issues.
You will find many many with hurt hearts. Yes we could all walk away but at the same time we would be walking away from our friends too.
I really do think they had a good reason and because of the games security could not tell us. It comes down to how to make it hurts less.
As parents know they can not stop there kids from getting hurt it is a part of life but how a parent handles it makes all the difference.
Unfortunately there are many kids on VMK that do not have that parent helping them through this.
I mean this in no disrespect just trying to share what many are feeling.
People running this game actually admitting their own mistakes and not blaming it on other players or the Yeti!
Thank God I never told my daughter I was playing for her.
Who wants to share the prize money with a hornswoggler who catches the subway to the finish line? 
I will NOT go through that terrible weekend again.
