i agree, if things get out of control, no matter the topic, mods should intervene.
i just can't find any reason behind lockind thread on museuuw - was it because some 'prominent' members started yelling to close it just after it was started?
next thing is the idea of expressing one's opinions freely, to which e-forums usually contribute. what's the difference between 'my rider vs. yours' quarells and 'my trek vs. your canyon'? it comes down to WW members' personal culture whether they'll start to throw inappropriate words on each other, not the thread itself.