If I may, the game is still for sale, along with a removal announcement.
I think Vertex wants to make some last bits of money off a community on Steam that tracks these kinds of games that are likely to be removed from sale and hopes that as many of them purchase it now (hence why the screenshots are removed, trailer, notices of removal everywhere. Everything to indicate a removal is imminent) but yet they've still not disabled the purchase, which can be done quickly without the need of an entire store page removal.
I still unfortunately think they are acting in contempt. I know of course you've said for people to stop going at Vertex, but frankly, I think what they've done is abhorrent and sets a bad standard. I've thrown my hat in and asked for the purchase to be disabled and for you to be donated the entirety of the money they've made, as even now, I think they are deceiving and misrepresenting themselves. They haven't even publicly acknowledged and apologized for the theft publicly, just seemingly leaving it in private comms with you.
You have my deep sympathies.