like most fads, they have a habit of fading away as time goes on. s many kids/young adults jumped on the MR train so fast and then discovered there's really nothing you can do with one of those things and they all look like everyone's else's, so they put on the shelf in the basement. the AMA simply took advantage of a good opportunity to "make hay while the sun shines". ....like any other self respecting and self preserving business would (that's the American way).
as for HK ...most online business operate in the "fringe zone" taking full advantage of the isolation and insulation provided by the world wide web. most web dependant companies are started knowing they can bail out with a push of the right button.