They don’t always do definitive editions, so should I just wait forever and never get it?

This is not a binary. “If they do not release a definitive edition, I can never buy it” is not a true statement. Show the company that you’re not going to get it right away and convince others to do the same.

they just view that as people not being interested in the game at all, so they quit making anything.

I have never seen this happen with a popular IP. People complaining on social media would also probably be a decent enough way for someone at the company to know as around release, companies will definitely be checking.