b) If they truly feel that way, why don't they just give Inafune the rights to Mega Man so he can make his own Mega Man games?
Better to keep a money-making IP around *in case* they get their balls back.
I speculate policies get in the way of a humble act such as a company giving the rights to a single individual. Isn't the rights to a franchise usually something that is bought, btw? I doubt Inafune is rich enough to buy Mega Man.
But again. Speculation, speculation.