He seems to have given into the self-deceit of many who sell a modestly successful business in the hope of having the overhead lifted and getting more freedom to "create", viz.: once they've bought what they want, you are expendable. As, in this case, were the wargames. This the root of my moroseness on the topic.
I am surprised very smart people don't remember this. I -- who will never own a business if I can avoid it -- have seen this ruin lives fairly close to me. The words Brant cites above gave me a chill.