For all the criticism of the Maloofs, if you think about it, this is probably going to be the best possible outcome for them and their business. They're finally going to get the new arena in Sac that they've been trying for for years (if you believe that), they'll nearly double their TV contract, they've got another 10mil in sponsorhip/ticket revenue, and the situation they're "coming back" to in Sac is far better than being under the wing of a vulturous landlord/business partner in a risky and unproven market.
If you set grudges and feelings aside, from a purely economic and business point of view, this was BRILLIANTLY played by the Maloofs as a way to finally mobilize the region the get an arena and they'll get a new tv deal, and have an even more fervent fan following than before. Now, hopefully they can just say the right things and make a re-entry fairly smooth. From the most recent quotes in the yahoo article, it seems they are actually capable of making the correct conciliatory remarks-- whether those remarks will get published by the Bee is another story.
I suspect though, that there will always be people who won't "forgive" them (as if they somehow didn't have the right to explore their options--sheesh). But I guess that's what comes when you have such emotionally invested fans. The good with the bad.
I do seriously think that this may have been a ploy, possibly cooked up by George, to finally grease the wheels in Sac and get things moving faster in the direction of a new arena.