^^^Note, too, that it's a bunch of VW enthusiasts making all these comments. Most of the people in this thread are either ex-Golf R owners, or current/ex GTI/GLI owners.
It's not like it's a bunch of Honda/Toyota fanboys in this thread that are gleefully rubbing their hands at the fall of the mighty GTI.
It's also a testament to just how successful the VW GTI as a nameplate is. The GTI is arguably the most successful hot hatch on the market, ever, perfectly blending performance, fun, utility, and liveability. I can understand why some of the diehard GTI fans are getting worked up over this. No need to fix what isn't broken!!
Then again, large companies have a habit of 'telling consumers what they think consumers want'. Apple did it when they removed the headphone jack from the iPhone - there was a huge uproar, but eventually it died down, consumers got used to it, and it turned into a non-issue.