If MP and DS had handled things differently, then even though I don't like the album, I'd go to one of the shows anyway. Whether it was a small venue, big venue, etc. I would have been happy to do it, and would have hoped I'd enjoy the live show even though the album isn't good. As it stands now, I won't be seeing them. If they want to issue an apology for all the crap, and manage to avoid all of the nastiness until their tour, maybe I'd change my mind.
As for the venue sizes - I don't know if it's that big of a deal really. Opeth played the Forge in Joliet within the last 5 years. Fates Warning played there as well. Fates is a legendary prog metal band and they don't draw better than that. Plenty of other bands do worse. I get that it's a far cry from what MP's done with DT (and certainly A7X and Twisted Sister), and I wouldn't at all be surprised if the name recognition for him and some of the other guys draws people to the shows who wouldn't catch a band like Fates Warning, but... I don't think it's a shock that they're playing these small places and it doesn't mean they suck. If MP was truly expecting to play huge venues, then I suppose this'll be a huge disappointment but I don't really think that's the case - he had to know they'd be starting small.