I rather think that Ricoh took a good look at what they bought and decided a rather dramatic change of direction was needed. It may have taken a few months to determine that (due diligence only goes so far).
Market/product management must get used to the state of the markets and develop lists of new requirements and associated timelines. ( Reading PF may not provide enough market intelligence
. )
With a change of direction, R&D staff must shift their efforts and resources must be diverted to new concepts, technologies, whatever. Perhaps new intellectual property agreements and new supplier agreements must be negotiated, at least in principle, before the detailed development begins. Those are needed to understand what the designers will have available to them.
If the Hoya plans had to be scrapped, the current situation may be understandable.
But I do wish, though, I could get another K-5, this one in crystal blue .....