One problem is how to keep out competition like LEOs and other squatters seeing opportunity.
The other would be how to get through the door without destroying it - sure, you can go at it with an ax, but a destroyed door won't stop wild animals coming in.
But if those issues can be solved, I think it's viable.
Someone probably tried to No True Scotsman the mod. It was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Or maybe the admins were getting too scary. The politics talk on a sub like that must've been immense. There must've been lots of bans by both mods and admins there. Eventually, the admins would've demanded that the mod get things back on track or the mod will be banned as well.