When a body of work is lost, there is not only the inevitable loss of accomplishment, there is the obliteration of years. No longer can anyone point to your digital footprint and say "check out this guy's work from 2007", instead, only those who have favored and followed the writer, will continue on a search for the writers work.
Much like when an old friend finds you on
Facebook, the relationship is rekindled as though there was never a gap. But for those that have made the journey, most are suddenly lost.
When a body of work is lost, the fan base suffers, and the rebuild begins.
Sometimes the disappointment also breaks business relationships too, relationships founded on the body of work.