Or how about finding a new home for the product (eg. another startup, media co., anyone!).

While I understand there is a large amount of effort involved in transacting something like that, certainly there is a legitimate & appropriate organization out there who could foster and grow the community that is Oink.

This action would mildly address the concerns about continuity and trust in product longevity.

Now I'm kinda wondering why they didn't spin this out on it's own like a startup assembly line.

it seems like this move, an open database of photos, tags and content would somehow "save" Kevin's image, of course in the eyes of those who point him down.