Elysian is (or was, if you wish) a "rock star" brewery, and Dick's a "rock star" brewer. There's a thing about rock stars. Their fans tend to idolize them, identify with them and generally take them much more seriously than the rock stars take themselves. See David Buhler's quote in the "All About Beer" article: I think the biggest emotion is how were seen in other peoples eyes, through their eyes. I dont walk around all day using words like iconic, legendary, favorite, [to describe us] we dont think of ourselves like that. We dont see it like they do. I wanted access to cheap beer, thats why I started.
Mickey Mantle was my boyhood idol (dates me, doesn't it). It really hurt me when I read his autobiography and found out what a lousy person he was, and I'm still angry about it. But he didn't let me down. My idol worshiping let me down.
It's unfair to craft brewers to load them up with all sorts of expectations that go beyond being successful beer makers and entrepreneurs. They're investing their lives, treasure and creativity in a business. They don't need to bear the weight of (and pay the price for) this nonsense "kumbaya" ethos that craft bierdos demand with their beer.
As to AB buying up all the shelf space and filling it with the "craft beers" they've bought, nonsense. That can't work unless consumers stop demanding alternatives, and I don't see that coming. For every Elysian that is sold, there are 200-300 more starting up.
Make your choices and enjoy your beer.