For a thread that has about 174 pages, i think it's not the most stupidest thread ever but if it is, then the moderators failed in their duty and not about the creator of the thread nor the users who make replies on the thread be it those that are only farming merits or those that are genuinely taking part in the challenge.
How the moderatos failed in their duty if no one have reported the posts? the moderators aren't read every posts and delete it by themselves, but they're waiting someone else to make report first.
Maybe OP made a report and it got snubbed, if not OP's thread should have been needless.