I tried to steer the debate (I feel it should have been a Great Debate) in a constructive direction, but I fully understand why you locked it. I can make an assumption as to why you banned the person who started it.
But why delete the thread? It seems to me that not deleting it would allow people to read it and start a GD thread to seriously debate the issue. Now that it’s gone, no one will be inspired to debate it. (I stated my opinions, and would like to read the opinions of others; but I don’t feel like starting a thread myself.)