"User:TimStarling for one realizes that currently whether or not I follow the rules are really just an option for me, so he's gone to work to make Wikipedia more authoritarian, more under tight control and so forth." - this would seem to be independent validation of claims of developer vigilantiism or intent towards same by Starling.
What's said about Wales and w:Ayn Rand is also quite interesting, isn't it?
Even more interesting:
"I would prefer however to be part of a wiki that is (or is more) user-owned, user-run, user-controlled, and watch Wikipedia crumble under the weight of its own authoritarianism, centrality of control, lack of working processes and so forth. In other words, I would prefer, as these alternative wikis become more viable and more popular, to contribute positively to them, have all the sane people slowly leave here (unless things are radically remade), and I myself start abandoning the struggle here so that only the nutcases would take over. In fact, if a user-run alternative to Wikipedia grew to be equal to it, I think I would abandon Wikipedia completely,"
- Certainly it is true that Research Wiki should become exactly this thing, though more focused than an "encyclopedia". It's exactly the Richardchilton type we want editing here! And having them will help keep lying garbage away.