Did we give this thing the hug of death?

Also, that "we have had...a time" line is just disingenuous as hell. That's younger-millenial colloquial, and the social context for it only works when there isn't a power imbalance. This guy's a VP at the company that's been kicking people around: he doesn't get to take that tone.

Yes, it definitely is. Also in most dnd games, probably. Art imitating life.