The main creator of this has been posting about his progress for months, personally I've been following its development ever since I first saw it. It's such a neat project that I can totally believe this being entirely organic growth.
If the "Get Started" button - the first thing you see on the website without scrolling - does nothing but yield a white page that asks for an email address, you're alienating a lot of interested users.
Attempted unjustified use of donation funds is not really any less questionable just because it didn't get past the treasurer - especially if the treasurer is, uh, constructively dismissed right after.
Holding off on the purchase after that event is the least they could've done.