I neglected to mention this happened only a few months ago, after the domain had been quietly and happily registered for several years. Unless you're saying ICANN changed the rules recently, but I'm having trouble finding a record of that.
I got a free domain with Github student pack from Namecheap. Just my personal experience, the person I talked to seemed very helpful and kind. However, the multiple rounds of talking to a real person to register a domain makes me think they don't have nearly enough automation which is a red flag.
There was a requirement in 2014 (I think?) and recently they updated it in 2017. I think people that weren't meeting guidelines started getting notices from registrars around that time. A few clients of our had this happen to them from everyone from GoDaddy to Network Solutions to NameCheap. Some organizations that had their emails set to go to a person that no longer worked at the company were having their domains suspended...but it was all because of ICANN.
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