I'm not sure whether it happened before or after I began my 4 year leave. In fact I'm not entirely sure of any of the specifics, but around this point, RT was acquired and is now owned by AT&T. With this acquisition came changes, though if that is mere coincidence or there is a direct correlation, I cannot say with certainty. Nevertheless, the effect was the same. Slowly, surely, the community-centered site we all loved became something... different. 

More live-action stuff was made, a heavier focus was put on the stuff that was popular with a general audience like Achievement Hunter and RWBY, and perhaps the biggest change, RT was merged with Screwattack, hence why Death Battle is now a RT show. 

Granted, none of these would have been bad things, had they made sure the community side of the site was an experience people didn't hate.

But at this point, I'm fairly certain RT wasn't making those decisions anymore. That was in the hands of their corporate overlords, who don't care about a community. 

Unbeknownst to me at the time, the site morphed into something... unenjoyable. The content portions turned into what feels like Netflix, and the community? It just feels like Twitter with a forums section stapled on as an afterthought. This unbearable experience coupled with the rise of sites like Reddit likely motivated a bulk of users to look elsewhere well before we got to this point.

And don't even get me started on renaming Sponsorships to FIRST memberships. It feels so much less special now, and I have serious issues with the name.

But alas, at the time I was unaware. Desperately looking for work while doing the most with what cash I could get. This was a dark time for me, what with the constant rejections slowly crushing my sense of self-worth. But finally, my determination paid off.

In July of 2018, I got me a job.

Since then it was slow going, and while I wan't making much, I was making far more than nothing. Eventually I was able to buy a newer laptop, and months later it occurred to me that it could handle Rooster Teeth, and I could FINALLY return to what had always felt like home.

However, what I returned to, was far different from what I left.

But until then, some music...