Actually, Dan, I disagree. I don't think he needs to be taken off the 'frontlines' at all. I don't even think his ops permissions need to be taken away, at least not yet. I think it's #winehq which needs to be taken care of. We could ban Vitamin off the face of the internet, but that's not going to fix anything. However, adding rules and conditions to the channel might. First of all, if there are rules in place for how admins should act, it is fairer for everyone. Admins don't get banned or de@'d for things they didn't think were a problem, and users don't get banned or kicked for things they didn't think were problems. In addition, a set of rules would increase efficiency, as it could get better answers from users, and quicker, more accurate replies from others; which apart from being nicer on users, would also be less stressful for people supporting them. Lastly, and I think the best benefit to rules, is that they somewhat 'dehumanize' the banning process, if they're made correctly. Admins would know precisely when they can or cannot ban someone, so they do not have to worry about getting in trouble over it, and users have no one to be angry at but themselves when they are removed by force.
Even simple rules could help. For example, add the following to the IRC page of appdb, and link to that instead of the FAQ in the channel topic:
Rules for #winehq:
1. Before you do anything, read the FAQ.
2. After that, check the appdb and google to see if anyone has already had your problem.
3. If you find nothing after an honest effort of searching, try #winehq, and ask your question as follows:
a. Phrase your question in the best English you can (no chtspk, please), and describe the problem as thoroughly as possible.
b. Include any information that may be of help, such as OS/distro, wine --version, things you've already tried, <other thelpful info here>
4. After you have asked, be patient. #winehq is made up entirely of volunteers, and even if someone who wants to help might not know what to do in your case. On the other hand, someone who does might get annoyed by your antics, and ignore you anyway.
5. Again, remember #winehq is made up of volunteers. Please do not mistreat them, or you may be kicked at an admin's discretion.
6. If an admin asks you to stop doing something, please stop doing it. If you do not, you may be kicked.
That would be simple and quick enough for any user who is going to get a reply anyway. The admin rules would need to be a bit more complex (how to try to treat people, what they can't ask people to stop doing, when they can break out the banhammer), but not very much so.
This also has the benefit of any action taken against @s being purely a 'you broke the rules' decision, instead of a 'convicted in the court of public opinion' covering-of-#winehq's-ass.