I know there's a lot of backseat lawyering going on in this thread but you probably took precisely the right action. Patent trolls have war chests to weather the occasional lawsuit and it's likely they could've outspent you on appeals.

There are many people two decades into civil suits that have experienced a level of pain you thankfully dodged. It is really regretful that the troll forced a full site take down but the legal system can be a harsh mistress - at least you're not penniless.