User blog comment:Saratje/PC release date explained - Skyrim: Dragonborn DLC/@comment-209.141.131.141-20130110205408/@comment-86.184.105.204-20130110225431

Although I don't agree with that logic either, I will say that actually devs get payed no matter what and it's the publisher whose income depends on sales. Personally I find it illogical for the whole cut-your-nose-off-to-spite-your-face principle behind it: the protestor misses out on three amazing (well, one amazing, one "meh" and one amazing looking) content packs, but Zenimax only misses out on the tiniest fraction of profit.