I don't mean to sound like a corporate simp, but TBH this was one merger I was half-rooting for, since Microsoft have been overall more pro-consumer than Activision-Blizzard over the past few years. I was kind of hoping they would clean house and restructure Blizzard in particular.
I think the misconception here is that Microsoft would STAY pro-consumer after acquiring everything under the sun. Companies are forced to be pro-consumer when there is actual competition, and the opposite is almost always true without regulation.
You are probably right. Remember xBox’s past shenanigans. Its not even healthy to rely on valve to be benevolent forever let alone Microsoft. To bad Activision has to be terrible too.
Extinguish what? It's not like ActiBlizz aren't already employing the most anti-consumer tactics out there. The only part of Activision that was good was Toys for Bob, and they effectively killed it.