Well you have some answers but here's how it breaks down to me.
First it's not just the Ebony, but most of the 'exotic' woods Gibson uses on their top line guitars. And per 'international agreements' and STOO-PID™ US Eco-Nazi 'laws', there's 'Good Exotic Wood' (legal) and 'Bad Exotic Wood' (illegal). And to use 'the 'bad exotic wood' you need gobs of paperwork proving that you had it before all the laws and regs went into effect.
In short, it's kind of like 'Blood Diamonds'. There's nothing wrong with them except the source they came from and in what year. Also that Gibson Guitar is getting the shaft from Barry's Gestapo, 'just for kicks'.
Note: I don't understand the whole 'Blood Diamond' baloney either. A 4 Caret Diamond is a 4 Caret Diamond. No matter from where in Africa it came from.
regarding the why..... it is the result of tight sphinctered women who have been taught since birth they need to be advocates and make a difference. They are wood advocates.
What exotic? The vast majority of Gibson guitars are made from Mahogany and Maple, with Rosewood and Ebony for fingerboards, with Spruce for their acoustic guitars.