I don't think the only options were "Live or die", they could have been very vocal, inform users in advance, etc. I may be wrong, maybe Visa/MasterCards were in a hurry, but I don't believe it was so much so Itch couldn't buy some time or afford a banner to protest on their website.
They got scared, which I understand, and bent like nothing, which I blame.
Now, yes we should find ways to resist the real issue here, the bank system and their love for the conservatives and far right ideas.
There is this worldwide (I think ?) petition, to start : https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-w...