You also point out that many other members in default trust give out trust ratings for similar reasons (I believe you mentioned Vod as an example). What distinguishes them from you is that if a valid complaint were to be made against one of their trust ratings and there was a consensus that they were wrong to give such a rating, they would probably remove it, while you refused to do so.
Really? Here is several people making complaints about it... I don't see anything being done or even replies being made.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=865244.0https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=742484.0;allhttps://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=865235.0;allhttps://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=873763.0In the end why are you so bothered? Your buyers can see your feedback and see that you are a reputed seller.
I am bothered because I did not instigate this. I tried reporting the user's posts but I was ignored. Once I took action against him he goes and cries as if I tried to perpetrate something on him and as if he was minding his own business. The staff licked it up and used it as a convenient example to others that they should obey "or else". Now I am on the default trust list as untrusted x2, effectively taking from me something I rightfully earned with my hard work. They are acting as if my reputation was granted to me and is theirs to take from me but it is not. I EARNED IT, and punishing me punitively for not following their dictates after submitting to the demands of a troll is just insult to injury.
Furthermore even beyond my individual case, this policy of moderating trust by using default trust removal as leverage against users is VERY DESTRUCTIVE to this community and simply allows trolls to use the staff to tear apart this community with the staff's own hands.