The GNR camp is what it is. Super fan or not, leaking CDs worth of material was never going to go down well and, frankly, he’s gotten off lightly. Whoever actually leaked the stuff, he put himself in the spotlight for the clout and bragging rights. Difficult to resist, I’m sure, but it was the wrong move.
But it speaks of a bigger problem of an act that is now furious that its fan base got to hear music after waiting 20 years for it to be put out officially. Easiest way to control leaks is to release the music you make yourself. It’s not rocket science. Axl ain’t Prince. Prince might have the bigger vault but he never stopped putting out new music.
Axl and his management screwed GNR over more than piracy ever could.