Given that notices were sent out earlier last year, that kind of negates your point that the users already knew the details of the transaction. What they knew, based on previous experience was different than what happened this year.
(Note to SDMB staff: My point here is not to make any judgements regarding how the board is run, I merely disagree with the world view that ignores the reality and complexity of life in favor of a simplistic black and white version).
It could also be argued that lost mail is the electric company’s fault because they chose the delivery method. Realistically it’s a partnership, as is the relationship with the SDMB. There is some black and some white and various shades of grey in between.
Do you also have a spreadsheet of every tax rate in every municipality in which you purchase items so retail stores aren’t burdened with having to track it?
Do you regularly inquire regarding the recall status of any product you have purchased, or do you just suck it up when something goes wrong?
Do you verify the speed limit on the road in front of your house before you drive on it, just in case it was changed recently, or do you just pay the ticket happily (true example)?
Which is exactly why I efficiently rely on the computer systems of the partners I do business with instead of inefficiently duplicating their efforts. And if they have a system that is problematic for me, I let them know, usually nicely, as most of the other posters have done in this case.