After I read
@MatthewSteinhoff 's comments, it dawned on me that it could be a threat to iXsystems if too many potential customers like him use FreeNAS instead of TrueNAS.
iXsystems needs to put bread on the table for the developers, they are not the salvation army. So, they need a free product for advertising (FreeNAS), but if the free product can do everything needed for the potential paying customers of TrueNAS, they cut themselves off.
A needed rework of the interface is an excellent opportunity to trim down the features for the free product as well. You want logs over a year? Please go purchase TrueNAS, you are a target customer.
So, not 'malicious', but business sense. Keeping up with the Robinsons and following the trend is another factor, but I think market pressure plays a role here.