I might seem to understand why the forum tries to handle these newbies or beilginners with some tenderness and give a temporal ban but I say this, it makes no difference from a permanent ban and I think the permanent ban is much more effective.
Correct me if i am wrong, i thought leniency as regards plagiarism more often than not applies to established users/users that have been here for quite a while and have contributed in one way or another, and thus if a misdemeanor they committed sometime past is found, then they could be given another chance, and if need be, maybe an addition of a signature ban or something of that sort.
Do newbies also get such chances? And is it on the basis that they are new and prolly didn't pay cognizance to the forum rules, especially that which has to do with "do not plagiarise"? I am unaware of temporary ban being given to newbies in cases of plagiarism, well if that is the case, i am pretty sure a mod will clear the air and the reason why.