I have seen this behaviour of a forum mod protecting those that are the ones causing grief on the forums. Thats ok!
I am gone for good now, I dislike collusion no matter where or how it is construed to the general public. Good luck, this game needs it.
My experience has been the opposite. I could show you my infraction history and you'd get quite a laugh out of the things I've been dinged for. Moderation on this forum is nothing if not capricious.
Unrelated to anything here, I will just leave this quote:
"Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence."