Here's JMHO.....
The rifles were Dick's property, so they certainly can do whatever they want with them. Kinda the basic mindset here in the- U. S. of A. Do I wish they would've rather sold them to me for a penny on the dollar? Why sure, looks like everyone here does. But that did not and was not gonna happen. Whether for a publicity stunt or just corporate sentiment, again, makes no difference to me. Maybe the guns were worth more as a tax write off than what they were worth for wholesale value. What they did took no guns outta my hands, not did it create a shortage of AR type rifles and accessories, nor did it increase the price on remaining pieces in other stores that still happily offer them, nor make them more difficult for me or others to get them. So in reality, no reason for me to get my undies in wad over. I as a legal and responsible gun owner, want to use and do with my firearms as I wish, as long as it's legal, as I would suspect most others here desire also. So why waste the time and energy to bash someone else who wants the same thing.
Are there folks out there who are applauding Dick's for this? Odds are yes and odds are just as many as those who are actively criticizing them for it. ARs and what are considered assault type weapons are a emotional and argumentative subject. This thread certainly is a flagrant example. Dicks in all reality is a moot point to me. Last time I shopped there was a coupla years ago when I bought my grand-daughter some soccer shin pads. The gun industry and market around me is healthy and I have plenty of other places to shop for guns and their accessories. Where I spend my monies will certainly speak louder than anything I post here.