"So what he gets must have some value; but he'd only see that value if this company fails - and only if it fails in a way that doesn't make shareholders think that their technology was doomed from the start."
Wow, that is so far over the top. Your post indicated no possibility that JBII may work in the future nor addressed that potentially that they will be CFP within a year.
Maybe we are not seeing any news because the new CEO does not want a PR show. The financial statements will be an interesting read to either support or erode your hypothesis.