It may have made the story go away, but I personally never purchased SimCity because of it. Several times I considered buying it to pass some time then remembered the horrible press and never followed through.
It certainly stuck around, its just in everyone's head now.
Design has always existed in this sort of gray area, especially with the introduction of Photoshop and desktop computers. Many people think graphic design is as simple as selecting a font and picking some colors to go with it.
I doubt software/web development will ever get past the same hurdle in the minds of the general public.
My only concern is the stigma of this idea will certainly carry over to its purchaser. I, personally, will always have this first impression of the brand as it is currently presented. How can I take this brand seriously in another space, representing a different product or business?
Today, Hessian branded itself as some kind of supply-side logo design. That is what I will always think of when I see it, not its new owner.