I tend not to post anymore, for a variety of reasons, but I will add my shiny nickel ($0.02 rounded up)
The problem with the rise in number, proliferation of posts and seeming protection of posters like those being questioned in this thread is that it has a deleterious effect on the overall board. The more that trolls, spammers and add-nothings to the purpose of this board (seeing SPs) take over TERB with their inane drivel, the more devalued the board becomes.
Positive contributors can't be bothered with the constant bombardment from those who, quite frankly, bring little-to-nothing to the table and leave, which in turn, leaves TERB a little worse each time it happens. We've seen the rise of several other competing boards in the past few years; these boards compete for relevancy in the form of good reviewers, advertising dollars, SP/agency participation, and bottom line, traffic.
By allowing the annoying, the instigators, the add-nothing-of-real-value to have the run of the place, while at the same time banning or driving away those who try to make this odd little "hobby" a more enjoyable, safe and worthwhile place, the moderators/board owner have in effect allowed the inmates to run the asylum. And we all know how that story usually ends...
Maybe Fred and the mods are all well aware of this. Maybe it doesn't affect the bottom line. Maybe they don't care. But I will say that the level of discourse - especially in the review sections (which, perhaps outside of advertisers, i thought was the point of this board) - has been greatly diminished from when I first descended down this rabbit hole... Making the Lounge a near-unbearable experience seems like the final nail in the coffin.
But then again, what do I know?