Good point. I've also noticed some of our best members missing for a while that had nothing to do with the Great Purge of 2015. But to me, the site has suffered to a degree, even if it is a small one. Much less interesting and less useful these days. Might have nothing to do with those people being gone, but it seems to have occurred shortly after they were booted. Just my perspective and I might be way off base, but that's how it felt to me.
But who is at fault for what you consider to be the site suffering? The rule makers or the rule breakers? Not arguing, just something to consider.