Now more than ever is when we need sites like this. This all plays right into the government's hands. They may as well keep it up because people are self-censoring and that makes their jobs easier.
Continuing the site would benefit the "protest" infinitely more. And the operators probably know this on some level.
And that's the real story here -
These sites are shutting down because 1) it was unprofitable, 2) it was a time-sink, and 3) now there is an excuse to get out and move on with their lives and businesses.
*I'm not blaming them - and I'm not saying it's anything above the subconscious level. I'd probably do the same.