That move enforced what had been previously a verbal/written agreement that Steemit stake was for developing the platform and not for interfering with governance or for personal gain.

That went far beyond that and froze STINC out of their accounts for virtually all operations, not just witness voting. They could not use it to develop the platform under those restrictions. The 22.3 which @timcliff put out addressed their promises without going further. Not sure what this 22.4444 is now trying to do.