Consolidation happens in this industry. Hell it's happening in ugly way in all traditional industries too as the economy sputters.
Since vast majority (if not all) of these acquisitions were of private companies, the money is elusive illusion and not going to be forthcoming on the biz recipe.
Arvixe was a company I fondly joked that half of the productive folks in the bargain sector worked at, at some point.
Arvixe by our terms here wasn't ever price wise a discount brand. Even cursory look at their lowest shared hosting plan with all the unlimited 'garbagio' smacks you today at $96.
Like every other shared-hosting focused brand it is all about those big fat pay ahead annuals. Every customer through the door = $100 plus whatever you can upsell them on (domains, SSL, etc.)
The stealth shut your mouth deals are simple. They are there to prevent mass brand defection. People get irked, but are all ADD. Attention span of caring is three billing periods and if things don't catch on fire or go down as often as ColoCrossing brand then 85%+/- keep their butts in the same chairs. Cause folks are lazy.
EIG is big venture / fund money. More money than sense.
The buyouts, great for the ownership getting out with their golden parachute. Unsure how it proves for the working folks that keep these companies running.
All said, non 1099 real employee status, vacation time you actually can use cause they have other staff while you relax, 401(k), etc. these are things blue collar fought for and received many many decades ago. Tech continues to be blah and an outsourced sweatshop mind thriller. Slavery was outlawed, but involuntary self-enslavement is contractually just fine by law and obviously in practice.
More consolidation is going to happen and I guarantee we'll see brands folding outright. Overdue as really, I don't see any of these companies growing tech necessity and creating a reason for people to have multiple hosting packages they pay for at any cost.
