Andy,
My understanding from Lewis Muratore who has been using the BG for about ten years is that this rumor does the rounds every summer in the Northern hemisphere, often precipitated by a letter to strategic customers alerting them of the possibility.
This letter provokes a rash of sales, which seems to postpone the deadline, and it's been happening for long enough to become quite cynical about it.........

In any event, consider this: BG has been going from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and the new coupling series, the NX, is a relative newcomer on the scene. Why would they develop new, popular products, only to withdraw them? There has to be a R&D cost to recoup!
Cheers,
Hugh