They should stop giving them money, that's correct. Your idea is that because they haven't, it means they're still supporting them. I disagree, and provided some arguments for why that might be, citing another abandoned game which is still receiving money.No, but I don't pity them at all. Sure, patreon could add some long term cut-off for inactive devs, but that's a different discussion.
If they aren't, then they should stop giving money. It's not that hard.
No one is suggesting that a mother who has given birth should instantly start working again, but to use the 6 months that she'd be off work as an excuse to why the update is taking over 18 months is poor. (She could technically take a year, but I don't see how that would be needed considering their job consists of them being at home.)