Dead man switch could also be a ‘very sick man’ switch or ‘man in a coma’ switch. Barlow had been sick for some time and probably didn’t want to take certain information with him. Q may have received the files right before he posted his name.
You know, what if Barlow DID discover Snowden was actually blackhat and sent his files somewhere team Q could access them and Q was rubbing Snowden’s nose in it?
“Trouble ahead, Lady in red
Take my advice you’d be better off dead
Switchman’s sleeping, train hundred and two is
On the wrong track and headed for you”