User blog comment:Rupert Giles/Layout Changes: Breakpoints and Typography/@comment-3328029-20150416195158/@comment-452-20150416200225

I agree with everything you've said, but I just wanted to let you know why I think Wikia is doing this: mobile.

Wikia have declared 2015 has the year of the mobile device or something to that effect, and are optimising for mobile in multiple ways.

However, them optimising the overall layout is only goes half-way, because, as you said yourself, some content looks crappy on smaller monitors.

One of the ways Wikia has already attempted to address this is by adding the separate mobile preview button, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if no-one is using it.

So, Wikia is trying to force you to optimise your tables for smaller screens by taking away the benefits of larger screens. "Making desktop users see the same thing as mobile devices" was part of the reason for the Venus prototype, and they've clearly stated this this change is related.

But that's just my interpretation.