>>truth be told, the Tavern lately had gotten so bad that I was in a mood that I did not give a flyin F*** whether I got banned or not. <<
I think that's indicative of the problem they are trying to fix in their ham-handed way. Negativity breeds more of the same. The air had gotten pretty toxic in there.
I think they have been flailing in trying to deal with it. Someone higher up the ladder clearly just said "zero tolerance" starting now.
I also think we overestimate how dependent BT is on the tavern regulars. There are many more posters who never go near the tavern. I really don't consider myself a regular poster...tavern or otherwise...I'm more of a lurker of late.
I've got to say, with the tavern all quiet, I find myself in the construction threads more in this past week. I think the tavern has been sucking way to much energy out of a lot of us that would be more productively spent elsewhere.
So where am I going with this reply? I don't know. I think if a reasonable quiet boycott would help get the regulars re-instated with the understanding that the rules are going to be a lot more firmly enforced, that would be a good thing for everyone. I don't think all-out war would benefit anyone.