It wasn't so much about money, even though Team Maze got about 1/4 to 1/3 of budget whole alpine team had at Slovenia ski fed, just for Massi to point out in every single interview, even if not asked, they need to deal with everything completely by themself with no support (money and/or material) of ski federation. Even if it was "just" 1/4 of whole budget (not A team budget but whole budget from WC team to kids development programs), it's kind of hard to say there's no support from ski fed side
But as I wrote, it's not so much about money, as about mind games they were playing with everyone else, and when it comes to this, Massi is real good. Now when all this is gone, and pressure is gone, you have whole bunch of racers doing super good compared to their results from 2 or 3 years ago.
Back to Stuhec
Honestly no, I don't have much info on this. One thing everyone are (or at least were few weeks ago) all over it here is her team's argument with one guy who does sidewalls. Thing is, he's a bit special but on the other side, so is Ilka's mom who basically runs the team. I don't know all the details but obviously he had impression Ilka and their team will get him deal with Stoeckli about his invention, and of course that's never going to happen, as simply they have no power doing this. They arranged meeting where Stoeckli guys said "no thank you, we have similar technology already" and case was closed, except this guy didn't want to return few pairs of Ilka's GS skis, so on the end it was police and whole media involved into this. On the other side, guy is actually really good in this. He prepares sidewalls better then anyone I have seen until now, and Stoeckli doesn't have similar technology, but thing is it's kind of hard to protect/license something like this, especially when you actually go out and put patent out where every detail needs to be put down on paper, and then you expect noone will be doing it same way, especially as end result is well... sidewall, just a bit more polished one
While skis with so prepared sidewalls are faster for sure (skis I'm using are from guy who has his racer's ski and their sidewalls done by above mentioned guy, so I actually see or better to say feel difference between normal preparation and this one), I don't think it makes such difference to win race or place 20th. But more then this, I really have no info on skis, as I have basically zero contacts with anyone working for or on Stoecklis.