Well that's disappointing from Samsung. But I'm glad iFixit actually followed through and decided it wasn't working out, rather than just declaring victory and walking away.
You've also gotta think that surely they notified Samsung before the announcement and gave them some time to try to salvage the arrangement before ending it. The fact that Samsung didn't suggests it's really not high on their priorities list, even with the expected PR backlash.
Unfortunately, I highly doubt there will be any material PR backlash.
Ask 100 Samsung owners on the street how the ifixit repair ability relationship impacts them, and 99 will ask what ifixit is, and what repairability means. The other one is too stoned to answer.
You've also gotta think that surely they notified Samsung before the announcement and gave them some time to try to salvage the arrangement before ending it. The fact that Samsung didn't suggests it's really not high on their priorities list, even with the expected PR backlash.