Not a USCC employee or customer or potential customer, but I find your theory highly unlikely.

Which sounds like more of what may have happened? USCC higher ups had a meeting one day and said:

a. I think we want our employees to act like this is their own businesses. So guess what, we are going to take away renewal pay. (Even though all small and large businesses recognize the value of repeat customers and customer loyalty, and therefore try hard for their repeat business. Also everyone is aware that reduce in renewal pay can directly affect the employees' efforts to retain the customers)

or

b. Sales aren't going exactly as we planned. In order to meet the financial goals we set out, we can no longer pay out x amount of dollars for renewals. So we must make this cut from the employees. However, in order for morale not to tank, we need to convince the employees of their earning potential of the compensation of new lines, etc.

To me, while not actually being there, it is pretty clear to me which situation more likely happened.