I think another reason for the switch in their minds was the fact that web sites like the Dojo and New Wave were so much more on top of things, like the Decks To Beat, and current strategy in the metagame. I think they just got tired of people making fun of their features like Picks and Tricks, Mr. Suitcase, etc. and they've decided to try and be more cutting edge.
I have to agree with Dune Echo on this. I feel that the Duelist should have remained a resource for people like us (even if we sometimes made fun of it! :-D), and if they wanted an online publication that was cutting edge they should have created a new one. By using the old name I'm sure they're just trying to get us to come over and check it out. What I saw of it wasn't terribly impressive, in fact it kinda' looks like the Dojo, but with a different color scheme.
Oh, and Ferret, have you priced Pokemon lately? Believe me, they won't be giving it away anytime soon, if a 200% markup (at least!) from MSRP is any indication. Those cards are already more valuable, as "in prints", than any Magic set I was around for, when it was "in print"! They even get 50 cents apiece for the energy cards (the Pokemon equivalent of lands in Magic)!
In fact, I seriously doubt that Pokemon will ever turn into a game like Netrunner, or Battletech, for a very important reason:
WotC R&D has nothing to do with it.
TomB
CPA Member
"I do not teach. I simply reveal."
-Daudi, Femeref tutor