Wouldn't it be possible to contact at least 1 of them, and settle the question? Story says author tried... Try again, ask around.

Story & comments read a lot like speculation. Why settle for that when original source(s) still exist?

For this, and because of tab completions (perhaps tab completions post-date zork, but nonetheless) I find the work:zork story compelling. I have used the first letter is replaced by "z" trick many times (z-tab, done!), and that pre-dated any contemplation of the zork mystery.

---The words defined in this dictionary are the property of the Tech

   Model Railroad Club of M. I. T. and all rights to use and define

   these words are strictly reserved.--- 

Another of David Sawyer's sound effects, which I reinterpreted as a colorful variant of "scorch."