I've played Space Hulk. Like, a lot of it, starting from 1st ed. Much of it without the minis, because we messed them up pretty badly learning how to paint. 40K is hard to play without minis because there are 20+ units per side and facing and line of sight are important. At some point you tend to forget what's standing in for what. The only thing you have to worry about in Space Hulk is equipment -- and most of the units are either stock 'Stealers or SB/PF Terminators -- and 90 degree facing, which is easy enough to fudge by drawing on cardboard.
Plus, you can buy the minis separately (especially if you're already playing 40K), and GW still wants to sell that $60 box set.
"No, its NOT the kinda picture one could replicate the tiles from."
Well, no. They took those down, right? I feel like we're talking about something different.
From the link I posted: "There are an awesome number of files on the 1st edition space hulk page. Everything from rule and scenario books, to files containing blips and board sections". This is what I remember, as there were rules and scenarios up before the takedown, and it's not okay.
"Nowhere did I see anyone make the abandonware argument"
- Practically every single entry in that link you provided was the guy saying something to the effect of "This isn't even in print any more, so I don't know why GW is angry." Examples:
"A big shout out to the fans who supported this game all the years that GW ignored it."
"Can anyone actually play these games with just a rules summary? Actually, does anyone actually play a game like this anymore at all?"
"Another game long, long out of print. Why bother having the file removed?"
"The sad thing is, if some of these games had been supported by the company instead of being abandoned they would have made money out of them."
"This one goes back to 1980. I fail to see how I could be affecting the company with a rules summary for it."
"There goes all the Battlecars stuff. My rework of this game took a long, long time to do and it's a shame I can't share it with anyone anymore. Or maybe GW is planning a re-release of this 1983 game? Yeah, right."
"All my work for Man O' War is gone. In addition to the summary, I'd redone all the ship cards to a standard size and format - thanks for all your help Scott (manowarplayer), we worked hard on that project didn't we?"
"Yet another long-defunct game - I spent many hours doing new reference cards for all the units for this one."
And so on.
"There were certainly a few infringing items, but rather than target those specific ones in the C&D, they just basically told them to take down everything."
They didn't, as I recall. I can't find the letter, but what I recollect is that there was a generic notice, and BGG opted to take down everything because of safe harbor, as you said. They could have used their own judgment to keep more files up, but it would have been a greater risk. GW certainly didn't tell them to take down everything, as there are in fact some files still up. They could have shut down the site entirely, but evidently didn't feel it was warranted.