I would think he would have not wanted to get stabbed over a fictional book he wrote nearly 40 years ago just because one of the leaders of the Shia sect of Islam took offence, rather than Rushdie caring about what a bunch of folks on a PC components shop internet forum think.
Because we have some younger folk on here too, just a reminder that it wasn't "just" a Fatwa issued, there were also dozens of terror attacks across the world specifically due to the Fatwa with book-stores being heavily targetted, so much so that many refused to carry the book in-case a few of the followers of usually tolerant and peaceful Shia sect of Islam tried to kill them for it, and all because 1 person effectively said "it's OK if you murder people over this as long as it's for this religious reason" just like with Charlie Hedbo etc.