This challenge seemed like it was pretty informal and really meant to help push people to practice every day by doing it alongside others since there was no other formal guidance or set projects.

Why take so strict of a stance that people were automatically kicked out after missing a daily update?

What is the benefit of a challenge that offers help with accountability but punishes them when they miss a day? How were you helping with accountability if you didn't help them get back into it after missing a day?

If someone can already code every day without missing a day, do they need help with accountability?

I originally read this article hoping to find a new coding challenge to join, but in all honesty it sounds like the challenge you ran was a bit toxic and over the top from how you strict you were and talked about the people that dropped.