Personally I think you are coming at this a little hard but I don't think you are wrong.

These experiments have, over time, made the site better. Many of the experiments were total failures but gave mk and others something to ruminate on.

I really have to give mk and the team credit, when they have ruined the site to the point where all I can do is shake my head at their folly they have reversed course in a hurry.

I don't know if trying to head this change off at the pass is worth it but something might be gained from things getting smashed up to see what happens.

If the problem that is trying to be solved is two groups aren't jiving with each other and we'd like to keep those groups on different sides of the room, than I think this will fail. It will probably make a few people happier to be put in a feelings playpen but I think it would suck more life out of a site that is teetering.

My two cents.

Please someone post a screen shot of the time they changed the UI into three columns, that was the absolute worst thing ever.