I wonder what caused them to release this.
People won't pay the ransom if they lose their data anyways. So since they no longer accept payments from [X] ransomware they released the key. This way when they infect people with [Y] ransomware they are more likely to pay.
It's this weird sort of racket where they hold to their word (they'll give you a key to unlock your data!) but they're the ones locking away your data to begin with... but people are more likely to pay if they hold to their word.
The Bleeping Computer article has much better information (and comments) than the TechCrunch reporting of it.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/teslacrypt-shu...
Aw, that makes more sense. I thought the devs and distributors were one and the same.
Full disclosure: I was a gamer (never swatted, but said a few inappropriate things in my day).
You raise some good questions, but you've unfortunately left them unanswered.