Hmm, I need to be very kind on this subject. MMC had a whole lot more potential, but in its current state it has been managed to the ground.This may sound stupid and naive, but have you thought about making a deal with Suzinak to buy the game? By all signs he is tired of the game and does not want to continue it, and 90% that the game will be abandoned for good.
If he says yes, it will be a plus for him.
People will say that instead of killing the project, he let it live.. Extra positive image of him, his new project will benefit from it.
And if he says no, people don't like developers who delay development and then abandon games. They will be wary of his new game.
And it’s not real estate where you can renovate and re-sell. People have played and enjoyed the story and the characters as they are. Even with their nuances and weirdness. Changing all these will alienate the fan base.
From a creator’s perspective, it’s easier to create something new rather than buying something to “renovate”. And I’m assuming that’s what Suzinak has also understood, and that’s why he’s moving to a new game. He’s not even buying it himself. Why would anyone else want to buy it?