Oops https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/04/gitlab_data_retention_policy/

yeah, there'd be super backlash from so many linux projects

IMO, original plan was not too bad either. 1 action to keep a project alive. If you can tie it with downloads etc from package managers, that would pretty much be the ideal solve. From PR POV, I think it would have been better to offer a "feature" to auto delete/ 1 click delete "stale forks". Essentially groom users a little on the concept that bulk deleting like this is ok, then do it.