I doubt it was about preening, but rather putting an end to discussion in a very practical way. Exactly like the Trump tariffs. Trump's not grandstanding or puffing up with the threat of tariffs. He will absolutely fly them against those that do not meet his demands like a pirate flag, and with absolutely the same effect: disastrous economic consequences. Voting the Return proposal did the same thing, and apparently had the same effect: BT got his way almost immediately and withdrew his support for the Return proposal so all those DHF proposals were able to be funded again.
Whatever he got, I hope it was worth spending the DHF down by $M's to the Hive community. Somehow, I doubt it was.
BT voting the Return proposal set a very high bar for DHF proposals to surmount that left only the Ecency proposal funded. Unvoting the Return proposal ~halved the barrier to gaining DHF funding proposals must surmount, and now Valueplan will get $M's from the DHF it spends without accountability on race cars, race bikes that cost more than a mortgage, and free sand they pay hundreds of HBD for. Many DHF proposals that cost a lot but may or may not benefit the community of stake holders much will now be funded.
BT unvoting the Return proposal will bleed off the DHF fairly rapidly. I estimate in 10 years there will be no DHF funds left.