I suspect there is a lot of haggling like this going on behind the scenes. ABD is totally different from the theme parks and
DCL because they contract out everything that ABD provides except for the guides. So, they need to get refunded from hotels, tour providers, restaurants, and other vendors before they can give us our money back. And I would imagine that most of these hotels and vendors want to give ABD a "credit" for future services just like ABD would prefer to give their customers a credit (rather than a refund). This is why I don't really have an issue with them trying to put off cancellations and refunds as long as possible, especially for travel beyond our existing window of stay at home restrictions.
And, let's be honest, I was prepared to pay $14k to
Nat Geo for our June Alaska trip. Do I like the fact that they still have my money for a trip that I really don't think is going to happen? No. But, I'd already budgeted to spend that money. There really is no difference in getting a refund now or a month from now. If not having the money is a now hardship, then that's on me and not Nat Geo.
Now, for PIF dates in the next couple of months, I think all the companies should be very lenient with their policies and refunds, if only because so many people are facing layoffs and furloughs. But, even then, that's what trip insurance is for. We are just hoping for an exception because basically the entire world is affected by this right now.
Just like we would prefer that ABD cancel a trip for us, ABD (and all the other travel companies, including the airlines) are hoping WE cancel first so that they can apply a different standard of T&C for refunds.
It's like we are all playing a big ole game of chicken.