I would've thought you would base your recording time around your tour schedule, thats what 99.5% of bands do.
yeah, its not like there is a rush to get a new album out. From a business point of view this is a very bad move, because when the album does come out, most people, whether they buy it or not, are going to have this cancelled tour on their minds and that may sway some people not to bother buying it. Why should we pay for something when they clearly have no regard for their fans? If it was the first time they have done this, then maybe, but it isnt, and "recording commitments" is a piss poor excuse.