I heard a different perspective of this incident on NPR today, as always there's another side to the story. Here's a link to a phone interview with one of the climbers involved. These independent climbers aren't part of the commercial expeditions, they climb without the ropes that the Sherpas were fixing and apparently weren't aware of the Sherpas request to not climb that day while they set rope and set up camp for the commercial expeditions. Sounds like a simple misunderstanding may have boiled up some buried animosity.
Leaves me with the idea that the Sherpas might be getting frustrated with the westerners with all their high tech toys but still relying on them so much. Seems understandable if that's the case.
Audio link to interview 
