They are two different problems.
The issues with the site started before you started deleting items, AFAIK.
There are people who can't even log in at the site, people getting corrupt files when others get the same file ok, etc.
Jake, I'd humbly recommend reading the thread I pointed above at Renderosity, since all details are there. It doesn't seem to be a person or two, but way more.
Thank you
Barb