Bottom line, as I think bosk said earlier (paraphrasing here), MP is the only one saying anything PUBLICLY. If MP would just SHUT UP on social media and in interviews about DT, there would probably be less speculation. There's no real reason for MP to say some of the things he does except to stir the pot a bit.
All he has to say PUBLICLY regarding Shattered Fortress is this:
"Hey, yeah, just revisiting my past one more time in-full before doing something progressive metal oriented with a new band. I probably won't play a ton of DT material with that band, so this is the last time you'll see me doing a full tour of Dream Theater songs. They've moved on, and so have I, and we're all in a better place."
Boom. Done.
But instead, he always goes a bit too far. I mean, I get it, he wants to reply to some reactionary stuff from all of us fans. But he needs to show public restraint. DT does -- wisely.
I am sure there is a ton behind the scenes going on -- both good and bad. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if MP was pissed about the 25th Anniversary of I&W tour and not being a part of it. (Total speculation here on my part.) But at the end of the day, MP is his own worst enemy when it comes to attention. He just can't keep his mouth shut to save himself.
As for all the fault and all of the drama -- DT could very well be treating MP like shit behind the scenes. I don't know. A few of you probably know that answer. But generally speaking, no one knows, because DT keeps its collective mouths shut in the press and online -- and that's smart.
I think most of us (and probably MP himself, privately) realize MP made a mistake leaving DT and tried to strong arm them into something they didn't want to do, and then MP made another mistake by jumping ship, and giving his former bandmates all the leverage moving forward. That was pretty...unwise. But it has been years now. And MP still (at least publicly) hasn't seem to have learned the lesson of what not to say online and in the media. And that's really a shame, because it probably plays into the fact he hasn't ever appeared with DT live again. Had he kept his mouth shut from the get-go, in my opinion, he probably would have played some of these I&W anniversary gigs with the band.
It's really a shame, and I hope whatever is being discussed behind closed doors leads to something positive for everyone involved.