I think most would agree that implementing a softfork could be intrepreted as a "passive agressive" stance, regardless. You mention Justin's team talking about token swaps and people trying to get to communicate with him. However, what this screams to me is a glaring lack of information from the outset. Information with which to preceed logically and united. There were too many unknowns on the table from both parties to make any kind of unformed decision at the start. That is so obvious to see. Anyhow, we are where we are now.

The SF was executed as an emergency defense mechanism put in place before Justin takes over this entire blockchain. But without having those "proper" talks in the beginning, can anyone absolutely guareentee that would have been the eventual outcome? No, is the answer to that question. We will never "100%" factually know now. So, given how this whole situation may very possibly be looked at in terms of a very dark "comedy of errors", I think plans to work together and work out any remaining differences would be the preferred approach. Unless the new goal is to run this blockchain into an early grave.