Then you didn't read my first post in this thread.  But at the very least, it was implied.  Some either joined the "dark side" while others went to live under a rock to lick their wounds.

The majority left when it was clear that certain rules weren't being inforced when broken by people from certain camps.

I think you're missing the point in which Captain_Yuri touched on.  It's more about less intrusive rules and more effective moderating.  Let me give you an example that has happened to me.

My personal stance on how each console company approached the market: Nintendo = caters to their core fans.  Sony = caters to gamers in general.  Microsoft = caters to the widest audience they could possibly appeal to.  I had forgotten the exact wording, but I created a sig based on this personal perception.  Guess what?  I was banned for it.  For an honest expression, I was banned without any substantial objective reasoning.  I suspect it was Kowenicki who reported me because he made snide remarks about my sig right before I was banned. Which leads to my next point.

We've had less participation on these forums because as I mentioned in an earlier post less controversy.  Kowenicki is a known Microsoft supporter and downplayed most anything Sony.  Now that the PS4 is the clear "winner," there's less for most Microsoft supporters to post to promote their console of choice.  One user just mention Nsanity.  The same applied to him.  He always posted pro Microsoft news and negative Sony news during last gen.  This is not the case anymore given the PS4's status.  And this least to my last point.

Call a spade a spade.  If someone is being a bias fanboy, call him out.  So back to "less intrusive rules and more effective moderating," you're banned for saying words like "fanboy."  I'm not condoning namecalling.  But the problem here is that, users have gotten away with the action of fanboyism because intrusive rules that prevent some from objectively posting a point a view allowed others to get away with bias subjectiveness.  This will allow for more posting in the shortrun as fanyboy try to get away with their console agenda.  But this hurts in the long run by discouraging some from posting an objective view point that might offend others for the wrong reasons, thus leading to an undeserved ban or a warning. 

It's getting to the point to where rules are just for the sake of control, and less for the sake growth.

Erroneous opinion noted.  Thank you.

Childish and lack of any worthwhile addition noted.

Your previous statement lacked substance.  In contast, my previous posts which is in opposition to your position cited several example to bolster my stance.  This invalidates your position unless you can cite examples instead of vague generalities to the contrary of my posted examples.  So by comparison, your opinion is erroneous at best.  Your initiation of namecalling is of implication of childish behavior.  Thank you once again for your participation.  ;)