The OP brings up a lot of good info.
Accell really dropped the ball.I do not know what their plan was if any.Was it to become a online sales only store?
Because they burnt many bridges with the LBS.They had some good deals, but the LBS sometimes could not even buy
the same bike for wholesale for what it was selling online.
I really like Raleigh bikes for the price and quality.I agree with the OP,they really could have done good if they went the LBS route.
Raleigh offered that online discount back in 2017 and you could get the Merit 3 with 105 for $750 .
Plus they had other deals.
And once Raleigh had a fire sale on Amazon I could not help myself to buy a few more bikes.
As I really like my Redux 3,Tamland and Roker.