reluctantly decided to add my 2 pennies...
having no any pm or for that matter other connections (or a history of such to either side), also must be mentioned i have nothing but a genuine respect for both alpe and dan, i speculate it was NOT about how alpe was/is treated or about alpe's views.
it was likely about how alpe fits/was fitting with the current view or a method of moderating the board...
my opinion - the moderating mode/trend, while largely reasonable and fair, is too rigid and punitive. pls, note. according to alpe, if memory serves, he NEVER-EVER banned anyone ! NEVER. in almost a decade of his service and the hundreds if not thousands of bans by just about all mods.
was that too much of a soft power or too little of a hard one in the view of the current mod team ? only they, the current mod team would know, but i suspect it would be one of the questions alpe would be faced with...
another potential issue it seems would be that alpe had deliberately - and quite reasonably given his inputs - chose his own area of moderation.... largely the politics threads which, by any stretch is one of the toughest areas to navigate.
pls note, just about everyone in those threads, regardless of their diverse views and biases, gave alpe the highest credit for his patience and his class. the last i recall alpe calling chubacca to quit the insults which were acknowledged and followed instantly.
it would be IMPOSSIBLE if alpe did not enjoy the respect he EARNED. pls provide me with a similar example on this board !
long story short, it seems the issue was a narrow-minded role allocation by the powers vs. a shrewd analysis of what the board's respected moderator, despite his stubborn view of his self role, would deserve...
my limited perspective.
and of course, the bob thread was where alpe went directly against the powers which - i dont really know - may have also influenced the situation from far above...