Seems like (For the moment), free stuff is back, but the paid content is still out of order. So with everything given, this is a pretty smart move. It will definitely put more eyes on this game, and that's no bad thing, as that was what Itch was designed to do..
I suspect like others, that once payment options get figured out, this Window of opportunity will close, and the next update will be time-locked like it always was.