MIT over the last few years, sadly, under the Hockfield administration, has screwed hackers over - no doubt about that. Numbers decreased because of that. But they increased at the same time due to the MIT blogs and better (sometimes unintentional) publicity of MIT hacks.
I honestly suspect that things will be better for hackers under Reif's administration. He does, in my humble opinion, "not suck."
EDIT: Also important of note is that Aaron wasn't a student at MIT - historically, MIT students were forgiven for things like hacking, but non-MIT students were typically handed over to Cambridge Police. Typically, when hacking with a non-MIT student, you would pretend they were a 'pre-frosh' if you could.
I honestly suspect that things will be better for hackers under Reif's administration. He does, in my humble opinion, "not suck."
EDIT: Also important of note is that Aaron wasn't a student at MIT - historically, MIT students were forgiven for things like hacking, but non-MIT students were typically handed over to Cambridge Police. Typically, when hacking with a non-MIT student, you would pretend they were a 'pre-frosh' if you could.