As someone that hasn't followed this very closely (and is not more than very vaguely familiar with the OPEN act), I wonder if SOPA and PIPA were never intended to pass, but only to make the OPEN act seem positively moderate by comparison so that it would fly right through the process.

Ironically, I think this tactic may have had the opposite effect -- raising awareness and willingness to take opposing action, ultimately resulting in a more anti-OPEN sentiment than if they had just started off with it in the first place.