I read the initial topic...

I also was a victim of this. I don't actually play the server, only vassal exchange. Yet i was banned. How or why i don't know.

here is the initial topic link
http://1100ad.com/forum/view/33063/last#btm

I am sorry to be so insistent but a simple: Its fixed now, topic closed. Will not suffice, nor should it.

Why did this happen?
Who benefited from it?
Which developer actually did this?
What was his or her reason for doing it, what was the thought process to think it was a good idea?

Much can be learned form this... But we need the answers to asses and offer constructive argument.
How else can we improve the game if we don't debate the issues in full.

Now, this is not a launch pad of this silly useless boycott that's being proposed of late.
The best way to fix any problem is to get to the root of it. And the only way to do that is to talk.