I have nothing to add to this that has not already been added, but feel that I must voice my agreement here, without the Patreon it would be all well and good for him to take a year-long break or whatever he wants to do, but with the Patreon... the issue is completely different, in that it is an actual issue.
If somebody is paying you to do something, and you stop doing the thing, but keep taking money for doing the thing, and never tell the people paying you that you aren't doing the thing, and you ignore any and all communications from said people paying you... that's just wrong.
But if his Patreon goes down... I wouldn't be surprised if he returns soon after.