I don't think the mods and sycophants are bad people. You only need to hear them talk to know how messed up their lives and heads are. Then Iain comes along and goes "look at me, I'm messed up and play computer games, just like you do", and as long as they agree with his every decision they get an entry-level pass to a parasocial relationship. How do you level up? Keep telling him how great he is and how all of his crappy decisions are right. Failing that, just send him some money. They think he's their friend, and they don't want to lose that friendship because hey, this is a guy who used to be on TV and proper radio, he's cooler than they are, right? So they stay silent, and they protect him from those big old meanies who dare disagree with him, because it's a small price to pay... Right?