The majority of the world would continue the same way it has for the past 15 years.  Just because we're excited to see what Axl can do, most of the people wouldn't even know if he officially retiried.  Most probably assume he already is. 

The only people that would really be upset would be the leeches and the people that have funded him through the years of bullshit.  We might be upset initially, but life would go on as we have nothing but a small emotional investment at this point that has been getting smaller and smaller as each day passes with no news or reason for hope regarding CD.

Is it really a GnR cover when GnR covered it from someone else?

He got off pretty easy, but people get less time for doing worse.

I guess it could be a good thing.  I took it as a bad thing that more recording had to be done, but I guess doing something is better than doing nothing.

Indicates has a much different meaning than proves.  There is far more pointing to what most people know happened than what a few want to believe happened.  Until the conspiracy nuts can prove anything, they are just another left wing group with an agenda.