The point of this discussion should be to seek truth. The problem is that when some become invested exploring a particular path, proving that path to be correct sometimes becomes personal. I think this may be true for many who have invested in Shaerwaters and have been experimenting on themselves via GF's. This would later prove inflammatory to Ross.
Ross has developed software that calculates both bubble and saturation models - so he has no reason to argue one over the other. Since he converted both algorithms into software, Ross has the advantage of having compared and contrasted the details of their mathematics on a more detailed scale than the rest of us. He has undoubtedly developed a unique perspective that I found interesting in my persuit of truth. I'm not sure what Ross wrote that caused his banishment, but short of physical threats, I think we are all adults here and should be able to handle a little bit of criticism - even from Ross. We are all human though, and unfortunately from Ross' truth seeking perspective, he may have felt overwhelmingly attacked in his refusal to acquiesce that Buhlmann was right - and overreacted to the popular mob's criticism. The question is, as a truth seeking group, how should we deal with mob style criticism in our forum?
The NEDU study seems to be the primary evidence used to suggest Buhlmann was right and VPN is wrong. The problem is that many of us that don't dive the way the NEDU study was designed, so applying it's findings to us may or may not be valid. DD works for the government, so he needs to be right no matter what to uphold his reputation and position. Regarding SM, he primarily comments on NEDU (just like Ross) but was not part of the study. Other issues include the fact that we are primarily arguing Buhlmann vs VPM, but the Navy uses Thalmann - LOL! And the fact that no one is using straight Buhlmann without GF's suggests Buhlmann wasn't right either. If someone developed an arbitrary math overlay of VPM to make it's ascent curve match what the NEDU study suggests it should look like, that wouldn't magically make VPM right either; that would simply be the same thing as GF's over Buhlmann.
Personally I seek truth, and have no preference which one is right. Ross represented interesting counter arguments to the popular forgone conclusion that Buhlmann was right. Which one is right is not as visibly clear as a round vs flat earth. Maybe there is another option that science hasn't yet considered.
cheers