It was just a little blowup in a niche community over a fat ugly whore

Was not just that, it showed how entertainment media was corrupt. Now it seems like what ever because we are used to journalists being hacks but back then it was not. Don't get me wrong, on politics I doubt anyone thought journalists were unbiased but in entertainment it was a different story. It was even worse because entertainment manipulates more subtle then politics.

Gamergate changed the landscape and made it a lot harder for activist journalists to do their job. They rage against it because it hurt them and they've been smearing gg ever since but the damage was already done and there is no going back for them.