I like your analogy. Apparently FN saw the gap that they themselves had created and recently announced they would be reintroducing the HP. It appears the new design is little more than an hommage. Funny how a Springfield "clone" is more faithful to the original than a new design from Herstal. They never even mentioned Dieudonné Saive, who turned JMB's early drafts into an actual gun.
While we're at it, I think we should make a strictly non-political gun thread. I'm not an owner yet, but I'm working on that (obtaining a collector's license here in Poland is a bit of a pain in the backside). I'm more of a CZ guy than a Hi-Power devotee, but I can appreciate a fine example like @Barton's.
As for the server itself, I'm surprised they decided to pull the plug when riding high. Doubtless there will be some stiff competition for who comes up with the best replacement. I wonder why they said they no confidence in the development of DCS: WW2. With the Corsair and the Mosquito coming things are starting to look up on that front, at least from an outsider's perspective. Maybe it's time for ED to give us something Soviet for a change.