I too am hoping that SC responds to the numerous inquiries.
As for the dead bases, it's always been that they received ONE special obstacle at the get go, then no more followed unless they logged in. Even that one would disappear if they never logged in to "stick" it. This time around, some received none and many received multiple.
In special obstacle events of the past, they spawned on average of one every 4 days, period. Regardless of how many obstacles a base had. For the Ice Tree of 2017, this pushed up to an average of one per 5 days. ( I've kept meticulous track.

)
In the past, the "special" obstacles were exempt from the max, just like the gem box. From what I'm seeing now, bases that have the max number of obstacles, 44 or 45, I've never been quite sure, are not receiving ANY new "special" obstacles. They also do not show when doing a FC.
It would be nice to know if this is just a glitch, or is it by design. Are the "special" or "seasonal" obstacles NOT going to be exempt from the max? Is it just this time?
It would be nice to know soon so those of us who would like to keep the collection going can have a chance to delete some obstacles to capture the new. I'd hate to delete a bunch then have the whole "glitch" fixed, if it is one.
AND..... Ajax, you rock!!!