I don't agree that disabled price feed are necessarily an issue. I don't think the price feed of the back up witnesses is taken into account and those who are the most disadvantage by not updating their price feed are the witnesses themselves.
As for the disabled witnesses some have intention to be back and those who vote for them might still care enough to keep those vote to those witnesses until they come back for many reasons.
One example is @agoric.systems whom I've contacted personally and they have let me know they will be back online soon.
Take care @sc-steemit!
Thanks for your input @teamsteem.
I find that witnesses with a price feed already set up is a sign of interest and understanding of the ecosystem. Sure, it's just one of the tasks and as long as they are not in the Top 20 range it's not necessary at all. With that said, I still think that a witness closer to the top should be ready and well versed in the technical details surrounding it.
As of Disabled witnesses, I understand that a vote may state that they wish the person that runs it to come back as they have a spot left for them when they do. Disabled witnesses just lets everyone below move up a spot, but the votes should be redistributed imho. Some have been disabled for weeks on end, even months. One solution could be witness vote decay, something that's been on the table for BitShares as well.
At the end of the day it's still up to everyone to form their opinion, that's the best part I think :)