What I think is different this time is that Uru seems to be going for good. So Cyan has really nothing to lose by opening it to custom Ages and/or other custom content (clothing etc).
When it was closed the first time there was some hope to bring it back; which is IMO one of the reason why they where so hesitant to do something.. Now it's being closed for the second time, no one is gonna pick it up again; it's dead for good. So they have nothing to lose and everything to win by opening it up.