I see exactly where TED is coming from, however his leaving is premature. Seems to me, he's leaving before there actually is any problem of the sort that he is talking about.
All that said, he's leaving, if indirectly, because of Hal.
I don't think we'd have any problem whatsoever having a democratic and member moderated board if we had no flamers.
I hate goodbye posts as well. Always have, always will.