Interesting. Domain as a unit of trust makes sense until it doesn't. Buying a second hand domain is like a second hand car. But you may not know it is second hand!
I think the mistake here is the redirect old to new. That is always risky so only do it if deseprate. In this case I would have done the redirect from new to old. Then just use the new as a vanity url.
I think the mistake here is the redirect old to new. That is always risky so only do it if deseprate. In this case I would have done the redirect from new to old. Then just use the new as a vanity url.