People have made fun of Linux having Linus as the dictator on top, but it seems like that model might be the best for long term project success...
Although in this scenario, isn't code of conduct something much more "local" that the ringleader doesn't really need to step in every time to enforce?
CoC is just something I expect everybody to enforce when needed. Having a dedicated team to do that seems odd to me. I guess you still need someone to issue bans and to wield the ban hammer, but it _should_ happen infrequently that simply informing the violator of their violation should be enough (unless they're a troll and will continue violating, in which case they can be kicked).
[0] https://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-committers/2018-Jul...
That said burntsushi at least doesn't seem like an activist to me, so the grievances are probably legitimate. Coming from someone less prominent they'd not have anywhere near the same weight in my eyes. We just don't know what they are.
I take Linux organizational model over Rust's every day. A group of super competent people with no bullshit policy. It is proven. The problem is how to form the successor to the dictator.