Re:

 To me it looks more like ...

the one who disagrees with the prevailing opinion/protocol gets attacked

and

believers in a certain protocol join together to "take down" anyone who questions it, using name-calling and other TOS-breaking tactics.

You have it 100% correct.  It is like a pack of wolves going after anyone questioning their protocols.  I have been attacked so many times for questioning protocols here on CZ or posting evidence to the contrary.  And if people pay close attention they will find that many of the people doing the attacks are friends with each other so they group together and attack in packs.  Many of these people you will hardly ever hear a peep from then when they see others attacking they all of a sudden jump in because they feel there is "safety in numbers".

As  a recent example there was Ryan going after me relentlessly.  Then Justin, who all of a sudden returned to attack under a new name, joined in riding on Ryan's coat tails.  Then came Moreless back from the grave, then Will_I_Ever_Learn and other Moreless supporters that we have not heard from in quite a while.  One started in and the rest of the pack quickly followed.